ORWIGSBURG — Tri-Valley had answers.

Tamaqua had chances.

Both teams knew the stakes: Win and advance to face pre-tournament favorite North Schuylkill in the Schuylkill League semifinals at John S. Patton Field on the Blue Mountain campus.

Early on, Tamaqua struck first, scoring a pair of runs against the perennial power. But the Bulldogs, known for their small-ball style, forced the Blue Raiders into mistakes and took full advantage.

Tri-Valley scored six runs — four unearned — in the third inning and held off a late push to earn a 7-4 victory.

Freshman pitcher Myah Schwalm was steady throughout, scattering five hits and keeping Tamaqua off balance to secure the win.

For Tamaqua, the league title hopes are over, but its season will continue in the District 11 tournament.

“There are 10 other teams that wish they were here,” said Tamaqua head coach Tony Zancofsky. “Now we still have districts to look forward to.”

The Raiders appeared poised to ride early momentum to the next round, scoring once in the first and again in the third to take a 2-0 lead. But Tri-Valley’s offense came alive in the third, sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring six runs.

With one out, Kenzie Tobin reached on an error and advanced on a passed ball. Cassi Snyder followed with an RBI single to score Tobin. Two batters later, freshman Alina Leonard drilled a two-run home run to give Tri-Valley a 3-2 lead.

Tamaqua nearly escaped further damage with a flyout, but Olivia Witmer singled, and back-to-back walks set the stage for a costly two-error sequence that brought home three more runs.

“Those errors put the kibosh on us in that inning,” Zancofsky said.

Still, the door remained open for Tamaqua in the later innings.

In the fourth, Addi Krall singled and Megan Linkhorst walked. A two-out error allowed Krall to score, cutting the deficit to 6-4, but Schwalm limited the damage.

In the fifth, Ceanna Gormley tripled with one out, but Schwalm stranded her with a comebacker and a strikeout.

Tamaqua loaded the bases in the sixth on an error, a Linkhorst single and a walk. But Schwalm induced a popout on the first pitch to end the threat. She then retired the Raiders in order in the seventh to seal the win.

“She deserves all the credit,” said Tri-Valley head coach Marty Shadle. “For a young girl like her to do what she did against a very good hitting team was incredible.”

The teams split the season series. Tamaqua won the first meeting 8-2.

WEB GEMS ... Tri-Valley’s right fielder made a strong catch on a liner from Leah Crowley in the seventh. Crowley also made a nice snag at third base on a liner by Snyder in the first. Krall made a quick throw from behind the plate on a dribbler for an out.

AT THE PLATE ... Tamaqua had five hits, including two from Linkhorst — one a double. Gormley tripled, while Nico Conahan, Kolbe Robb and Krall added singles. Tri-Valley also finished with five hits: Leonard homered and singled, Snyder had two singles, and Schwalm added a single.

Tamaqua 101 200 0 - 4 5 4

Tri-Valley 006 001 x - 7 5 2

Faust, Knittner (3) and Krall; M. Schwalm and Rodichok. W - M. Schwalm. L - Faust. HR: Tri-Valley - Leonard (3rd, one on).

Records: Tamaqua (14-7); Tri-Valley (15-5).