Clutch hitting, aggressive baserunning and strong pitching helped Franklin Township earn a 7-2 victory over North Parkland on Tuesday night in the first round of the Lehigh Valley Junior Connie Mack League playoffs.

The win advances third-seeded Franklin Township to the semifinals and eliminates the sixth-seeded Buffaloes.

North Parkland scored both of its runs in the top of the first inning.

With one out, Jaxson Beidleman singled to left and advanced to second on a passed ball. After two outs, Steve Reichl reached on a throwing error that moved Beidleman to third, and a misplay in the outfield on Kieran Madden’s hit allowed both runners to score.

Franklin Township answered with a run in the bottom of the inning.

Roman White led off with a single before Carter Spotts walked. Following a force out at third, Brian Mriss lined an RBI double into the right-center gap to score Spotts and cut the deficit to 2-1.

Myles Meek took over from there.

The right-hander tossed a complete game, allowing no earned runs on three hits while striking out three and walking one. After the first inning, Meek retired 18 of the final 20 batters he faced. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fifth, and surrendered just one infield single over the final two innings.

“I threw a fastball and a curve,” Meek said. Asked how he maintains his composure, he added, “I stay out of my head and just throw the ball.”

Franklin Township coach Ben Moyer praised his starter.

“He’s been a strike-thrower for us all summer, and that’s what he did again tonight,” Moyer said.

Franklin Township took the lead for good in the second inning.

Meek and Landan Steigerwalt opened the frame with consecutive singles before an outfield error moved both runners into scoring position. Jacoby Andrews brought home a run with a groundout, and White followed with an RBI infield single to give Franklin Township a 3-2 advantage.

Franklin Township added two more runs in the fourth. Meek reached on an infield hit before Steigerwalt singled to left. A balk advanced both runners, and with two outs, Meek scored on an infield error. Two additional defensive miscues allowed Steigerwalt to cross the plate for a 5-2 lead.

Franklin Township added single runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. Mriss walked, stole second and third, and scored on a throwing error in the fifth. In the sixth, Steigerwalt reached on an error, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Miles Mann.

Steigerwalt led Franklin Township’s nine-hit attack with three hits, while White and Meek both added two apiece.

“We faced their pitcher earlier in the season, but we didn’t have quality at-bats,” Moyer said. “Tonight we did. We looked to hit first-pitch fastballs, had long at-bats and put the ball in play. At this level, forcing the defense to make plays often results in errors that lead to runs. We ran the bases well, too. Overall, we played a really good game.”

AVENGING THE LOSS ... Franklin Township avenged an 8-7 regular-season loss to North Parkland while knocking the Buffaloes out of the playoffs.

FINISHING TOUCH ... Meek ended the game by fielding a hard ground ball and starting a 1-4-3 double play.

NEXT UP ... Franklin Township will travel to Freemansburg on Thursday for a 6 p.m. contest.

North Parkland 200 000 0 — 2 3 5

Franklin Twp. 120 211 x — 7 9 2

W — Meek. L — Frederick.

Records: North Parkland 13-6; Franklin Township 16-3.