PINE GROVE — Three huge extra-base hits and the quality pitching of Kiersten Swain proved to be a winning formula for Greencastle-Antrim.

Meadow Gambacurta

The Blue Devils produced a 3-0 win over North Pocono in a PIAA Class 5A softball game at Pine Grove on Thursday afternoon and advanced to the state semifinals. G-A (21-3) will play the winner of Friday’s game between West Chester East (17-8) and Springfield Delco (18-5) on Monday, with site and time TBA.

“I am excited for Monday,” Greencastle coach Mark DeCarli said. “If we keep playing the way we have been, we certainly have a chance to win again.”

Perhaps the game’s biggest moment came in the top of the second inning when the Trojans (18-5) loaded the bases with no outs on a single, a sacrifice bunt that was misplayed and a hit batter. But Swain wiggled out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts and a pop-up.

“Kiersten just hunkered down and the defense played well behind her,” DeCarli said. “The girls bent, but didn’t break.”

The Blue Devils broke through for the game’s first run in the bottom of the third. Caroline Logsdon hit a shot into right-center and reached third base with a triple. The next batter, Meadow Gambacurta, hit a sacrifice fly to center.

Later in the inning, G-A had runners at second and third with one out, but could not score again off Trojan pitcher Arielle Bell.

Bailey Leckron

With one out in the fifth inning, Gambacurta hit a solo blast over the 220-foot fence in left field to make it 2-0. Bailey Leckron followed suit in the sixth, clearing the fence to make it 3-0.

“Meadow hit a bomb and Bailey hit a shot, and those were runs that were nice to get,” DeCarli said. “Once we got those, I could settle down a little.”

North Pocono went down 1-2-3 in the fourth and sixth innings, but made it interesting in the seventh. Pinch-hitter Addison Iyoob drew a leadoff walk, and another pinch-hitter, Cameron Forgione hit into a fielder’s choice. After Swain caught a pop-up, Amelia Bell hit a single, bringing up the tying run.

Riley Grambo sent a fly ball deep to left field, but Greencastle’s Paiton Gordon got back quickly and hauled in the final out not too far from the fence.

“I thought that was going out,” DeCarli, “but Gordon got back in front of the fence and caught it. She played well out there today.”

Gambacurta was 2-for-2 and Leckron was 2-for-3 for the Blue Devils, who managed 8 hits off Bell.

Swain pitched all 7 innings, allowing 4 hits and no walks while striking out 4. Of her 85 pitches, 58 were strikes.

DeCarli said, “All through the playoffs, Kiersten has done what she needs to do. She was used to mowing down the lineups (in the regular season), but in the playoffs she’s done a good job of letting the defense work.”