WEXFORD — It was exactly the start Seneca Valley’s softball team was hoping for.

After Lexie Hames set Pine-Richland down in order in the top of the first, the Raiders scored three runs in the bottom of the inning on their way to a 7-2 victory Wednesday in a WPIAL Class 6A semifinal playoff at North Allegheny High School.

“We talked about hitting, hitting, hitting the last few days,” said SV coach Marlesse Hames. “Being aggressive at the plate and getting out to a quick lead.”

Rylee Kratochvil began the frame by drawing a walk against Pine-Richland’s Izzy Sulesky. Kara Pasquale reached on a bunt single and two straight errors allowed the first run to score.

Bella Gross then delivered a two-run double for a 3-0 edge.

It would be all the offense Lexie Hames would need. She surrendered a solo home run to Marissa DeLuca in the second and an RBI-single to Illy Aggelou in the seventh. The sophomore pitcher struck out 10, walked one and hit a batter.

“She struggled a bit today, but did a good job of getting out of some jams,” Coach Hames said.

Particularly in the top of the third when an error, a hit-batsman and a fielder’s choice — that resulted in no out recorded — loaded the bases with just one out.

Hames struck out Calle Henne and got Sulesky to fly out to strand three base runners.

SV added two runs in the bottom of the third and two more in the sixth, with Kratochvil and Pasquale both singling in a run.

Pasquale ended the game with three of SV’s eight hits.

Sulesky took the loss after striking out two and walking three.

The Raiders had defeated the Rams (7-15) twice in the regular season by a combined score of 21-0.

“Anything can happen,” said SV catcher Anna Kalkowski. “The way I see it, every game is 50/50.”

Top-seeded SV received a bye into the semifinals and had not played a game since May 11.

“We scrimmaged a couple of really good teams — Neshannock and Franklin — and got some good work in over the last few days,” said Coach Hames.

The Raiders (17-1) will face the only team to defeat them this season, Hempfield, next week for the district title.

The Spartans defeated Norwin, 8-5, in the other semifinal.

SV and Hempfield split their two meetings this season.

“It’s great competition with them,” Kalkowski said. “Playing them makes me a better player.”

“It’s always a good game when we play Hempfield,” Marlesse Hames said. “Every game feels like a playoff game.”

Pine-Richland 010 000 1 — 2 3 3

Seneca Valley 302 002 x — 7 8 2

W: Lexie Hames 7 IP (10K, 1BB). L: Izzy Sulesky 6 IP (2K, 3BB)

Pine-Richland: Marissa DeLuca 1B HR 2R, Illy Aggelou 1B RBI

Seneca Valley: Rylee Kratochvil 1B R RBI, Kara Pasquale 3-1B R RBI, Bella Gross 2B R 2RBI, Mia Ryan 2B R RBI

Next: Seneca Valley vs. Hempfield, WPIAL Class 6A championship game, TBD