NAZARETH - What a difference two days made for the Pleasant Valley softball team.

On Tuesday, the Bears played a near-perfect game in defeating Parkland.

But on Thursday, errors and a lack of hitting were their demise in an 8-0 loss to top-seeded Nazareth in a District 11 6A quarterfinal contest.

The Blue Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on an infield single, a bloop hit to left, a fly ball out and a single to center by Cassie Zellner on a 3-2 pitch.

The ninth-seeded Bears, who finished with an 11-11 record, managed one of their two hits in the second on a leadoff single to right by Bianca Pridham.

In the top half of the third, Pleasant Valley mounted its only serious threat. Esmeralda Telles was hit by a pitch. After two were out, Kailyn Getz laid down a bunt that was misplayed to put runners on first and second. Jovie Valenzuela struck out, but reached first base when the ball got past the catcher.

With the bases full of Bears, Eagles pitcher Kylie Grover finished off the inning with a called third strike.

The score of the game changed dramatically in the bottom of the frame when Nazareth (17-6) put up a six-spot. Alina Weaver began the rally with a walk and moved to second when Zellner was hit by a pitch. After a fly out, Hailey Mandala singled sharply to left. The Bears’ defense would help open the floodgates with two errors before a safety squeeze bunt and an RBI double by Natalie Chloris produced a 7-0 lead.

Pleasant Valley coach Steve Caffrey wasn’t happy with his team’s defensive play.

“To be competitive against very good teams like Nazareth, we have to be error-free,” said Caffery. “That third inning really killed our chances. I was very proud the way we played against Parkland on Tuesday, but today we didn’t make plays that we should have made to keep the score close.”

Avery Kauffman relieved Grover in the fourth for the Eagles, and she was virtually lights out against the Bears, striking out the first six batters she faced and fanning nine in her four innings of work.

“We didn’t make adjustments at the plate against either of their pitchers,” said Caffrey. “We took too many first-pitch strikes and then let them throw us whatever they wanted to keep us off stride.”

Bears pitcher Kailyn Getz went the distance, allowing three earned runs including a home run to Zellner in the bottom of the fourth inning. Getz walked one and struck out six.

Danica Getz had the second hit for Pleasant Valley with a double to the left field gap in the top of the seventh.

Caffrey - in his 31st season as PV’s head coach - summed up the season that ended with a .500 record.

“I thought we should have been better,” he said. “I know we’re very young, but we have a lot of players returning from last year.

“We told the girls to commit themselves to get better as a team for next year. We’re definitely battle-tested, but we have to keep working to improve.”

COLLISION COURSE … Bears center fielder Lydia Borger collided with right fielder Allison Borger in the bottom of the fourth, but Allison hung on to make the catch.

EMPTY BASES … After Kailyn Getz reached on an error in the third, the Bears failed to get a base runner until Danica Getz doubled in the seventh - ending a streak of 12 consecutive outs.

Pleasant Valley 000 000 0 - 0 2 4

Nazareth 106 100 x - 8 10 2

K.Getz and Ratti; Grover, Kauffman (4) and McNamee. W - Grover. L - K. Getz. HR: Nazareth - Zellner (4th, none on).