WEXFORD — The Freeport softball team had become accustomed to stunning highly ranked opponents in the WPIAL playoffs.

This year, it wasn’t meant to be.

Neshannock struck early and held off the Yellowjackets on Thursday to keep its undefeated season alive with a 4-0 victory in a WPIAL Class AA quarterfinal at North Allegheny High School.

“It’s going to hurt for a while, but we have to look back on our season,” said Freeport coach Sam Ross. “Can’t take nothing away from our team. They gave us a lot of good stuff this year.”

Freeport (15-4) threatened to score throughout the game, but couldn’t deliver a timely hit. The Yellowjackets stranded at least one runner in scoring position in each of the final five innings, including a bases-loaded opportunity while down 3-0 in the top of the sixth.

Lancers pitcher Amanda Furst didn’t overpower the typically potent Yellowjackets, however, she pitched to contact and wiggled her way out of trouble to preserve the shutout.

“That’s experience. She doesn’t get rattled,” said Neshannock coach Tracy Kimmel. “She has a lot of faith in these young kids.

“Hey, that’s what it’s all about,” he added. “If you hold the other team to no runs, you can’t lose.”

The Lancers (19-0) plated two runs in the bottom of the first. Marissa DeMatteo doubled to lead off the frame and came around to score after a throwing error on an infield hit by Rayanna Furst. Amanda Furst helped her own cause by blasting an RBI double to the center-field wall.

Kimmel was pleased to see his undefeated Lancers shake off the nerves and jump out to a quick lead.

“You never know how young kids are going to react. You just never know,” explained the Neshannock coach. “This is a different atmosphere here. This is a different time of the year.”

Neshannock appeared poised to bury Freeport in the third inning, but the Yellowjacket defense came up big.

Madison Altmyer struck a bases-loaded single to give the Lancers a 3-0 lead, but center fielder Ashley Sample gunned down courtesy runner Kaela Zingaro trying to score from second and catcher Emily Lindsey alertly fired to third to complete an unusual inning-ending double play.

Alyssa Meta pitched well for Freeport and kept the Yellowjackets within reach, but the offense simply couldn’t find the necessary hit to spark a comeback.

Sample led off the top of the sixth inning with a double, before a walk and error loaded the bases with two outs. However, Amanda Furst induced a grounder to second and escaped the jam.

“Most of the year, we got timely hits. Today, we hit the ball right at them,” said Ross. “There were some good shots right at them. Nothing you can do about it.”

Neshannock added an insurance run to make it 4-0 on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Altmyer in the bottom of the sixth.

The Yellowjackets never stopped believing in a possible rally until the final out was recorded and the season was suddenly over.

“The girls really played their hearts out,” said senior first baseman Micaela Kurn, who went 1-for-2 with a walk. “I kept on telling them to stay up the whole time because the past two years in the playoffs we’ve pulled huge upsets.”

Freeport beat favored Mount Pleasant in the first round last season. In 2010, the Yellowjackets shocked Bishop Canevin, which was riding a 14-game winning streak at the time.

Freeport outslugged Keystone Oaks for an 11-6 win in the first round this year. Neshannock was a little too strong Thursday, but the result didn’t change how Ross felt about his team.

“We asked for team leadership this year and continuity throughout the team, and we had that,” said the Freeport coach, nodding at Kurn. “We would’ve liked to have gotten another game under our belt before we played a team like that, but we played right with them and there’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

Kurn was proud of her teammates and wished the underclassmen good luck. However, it was tough to hold back the tears after her final high school game.

“We left everything on the field. We did all we could,” said the senior. “It’s not fun losing, of course, but I wish them the best in the future and I’m sad it’s over.”

Freeport 000 000 0 — 0 6 3

Neshannock 201 001 x — 4 8 2

W: Amanda Furst 7IP (2K, 1BB). L: Alyssa Meta 6IP (0K, 0BB).

Freeport: Emily Lindsey 2B; Alyssa Meta 2B; Ashley Sample 1B, 2B; Micaela Kurn 1B; Alexis Roenigk 1B.

Neshannock: Marissa DeMatteo 2-1B, 2B, 2-R; Rayanna Furst 3-1B, 2-R; Amanda Furst 2B, RBI; Madison Altmyer 1B, 2-RBI.