DUBOIS, Pa. (D9Sports) — Despite a pair of runs in the seventh and the tying run at-bat, District 9 champion Moniteau dug themselves a hole too deep early in the game and fell to the WPIAL runner-up Serra Catholic, 6-3 in the PIAA Class 2A First round at Showers Field in DuBois.

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Moniteau trailed 6-1 entering the bottom of the seventh and got a couple of runs from Lee DeMatteis and Hunter Fitzingo off a Gage Neal triple to cut the deficit to 6-3.

Tyler McFadden was the tying run at-bat with Neal on third and Jared Lominski on first but hit a pop fly to center field to end the game.

“There were some times we had some life,” Lominski said. “For a few moments, we thought we had it. I think all seven innings we came as a team and did the best that we could.”

Mark Black led the Eagles offense with a two-run home run in the fourth inning. Pat Brennan doubled with an RBI and a run scored. Nico Eremic singled and drove in a run while Eli Kite went 1-for-3 with a run scored. Zac Miklos was 1-for-1 with a run scored and Alex Glumac had a run scored with an RBI.

Glumac opened up the scoring for Serra Catholic in the first inning when Brennan doubled to right field. Eremic bunted to set up a fielder’s choice which brought Brennan home to give the Eagles an early 2-0 lead.

Serra Catholic extended their lead to 4-0 in the second inning following an Eli Kite run scored on an error by Lominski, the Moniteau catcher, and a Glumac ground out that scored Jayden Metz.

Black’s line drive home run to center field drove in Zac Miklos and gave the Eagles a commanding 6-0 lead in the fourth inning.

Moniteau answered in the bottom of the fourth when Lominski scored on a Nate Tack ground out to cut the deficit to 6-1.

Neal’s triple and two RBIs paced the Warriors offense, McFadden and Mason Mershimer each singled while DeMatties went 1-for-2 with a run scored. Fitzingo was 1-for-4 with a run scored and Nate Tack drove in a run.

Logan Exler got the win in relief of Glumac with Brennan picking up the save.

Glumac worked 3 ⅓ innings allowing a run on a hit and four walks while striking out four. Exler then went 3 ⅓ innings allowing two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out five before Brennen got the final out.

For Moniteau, Fitzingo took the loss giving up six runs, five earned on five hits. He also struck out four batters and walked three.

“I wouldn’t trade the world for any of this,” Lominski said. “Even though the score says six to three it’s still a win in my book. We came a long way and no one thought we would make it this far.”