WEXFORD — Emily Watson didn't feel like herself in the circle.

“Today, I felt like I was sluggish,” Watson said. “Like everything wasn't connected.”

Despite feeling out of sync, Watson turned in a gem for the Seneca Valley softball team and also delivered a huge RBI single to lead the Raiders to a 3-1 win over Franklin Regional in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAAA playoffs at North Allegheny High School Tuesday afternoon.

Rust has something to do with Watson's feeling of dread. Seneca Valley hadn't played a game since a sloppy 10-7 win over Butler May 3.

“I need to pitch a lot to stay sharp,” Watson said. “I pitch at home, but it's not the same.”

Watson, though, battled for seven innings, relying heavily on the defense behind her. Watson gave up just one unearned run despite not striking out a batter.

“I don't think she's ever done that,” said Seneca Valley coach George Trew. “It was one of those days. They are a good team. Don't take anything away from them. They are a quality team and a quality program.”

The Raiders committed one error, which came on the very first batter Watson faced. Franklin Regional leadoff hitter Savannah Barnes later came around to score on a single by Alexa Tominello to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.

It looked like that lead would hold up.

Franklin Regional (17-3) threatened several times, but Watson was able to get out of trouble thanks to some slick fielding.

Left-fielder Cassie Bachik saved two runs with a diving catch in the bottom of the sixth inning. Shortstop Julia Vandrak and third baseman Paige Foley also made some nifty plays in the field to save hits and potential trouble.

“They're great girls,” Watson said of her defense. “I know if I'm not pitching as well, they'll have my back. That's a great thing to have.”

“We had one mistake early, then we played very good defense,” Trew added. “(Watson) kept them off balance and they hit the ball where we could make plays. And we made some really good plays behind her. When you get good pitching and defense and string a couple of hits together, finally, you get a victory.”

Seneca Valley was putting a bat on the pitches offered by Franklin Regional's Samantha Johnson, but like Watson, Johnson was mixing up her pitches well and getting hard outs.

The Raiders finally got to Johnson in the bottom of the sixth inning with three runs on four hits. Watson, Megan Buletko and Foley all had sharp RBI singles in the frame.

Up to that point, Johnson was frustrating Seneca Valley. Johnson struck out just one batter in the game.

“You just have to keep going. You can't even think about giving up,” Watson said. “When you start thinking about giving up, that's when you get beat. You might as well go home.”

The only one going home is Franklin Regional.

Watson worked around a walk in the final inning to dispatch the Panthers and set up a clash with Peters Township Thursday at a site and time to be determined.

“It was nerve-racking, but I just knew I had my defense behind me,” Watson said. “I knew they had been carrying me the whole year. I just knew we were going to do fine. I just needed to pitch to the corners.”

Seneca Valley 000 003 0 — 3 7 1

Franklin Regional 100 000 0 — 1 7 1

W: Emily Watson 7IP (0K, 3BB). L: Samantha Johnson 7IP (1K, 0BB).

Seneca Valley (14-4): Julia Vandrak 1B, Kelsey Mislan 1B, Watson 2-1B RBI, Megan Buletko 1B RBI, Paige Foley 1B RBI, Hailey Marthalee 1B

Franklin Regional (17-3): Courtney Roperti 1B, Kaelin Jackson 1B, Johnson 1N, Alexa Fike 2-1B RBI, Nicole Berardinelli 1B

Thursday: Seneca Valley vs. Peters Township, site and time TBD