Pine-Richland did not crumble when the Norwin softball team built a four-run lead heading into the final inning of their WPIAL Class 6A playoff game Tuesday.

Instead, the Rams showed their mettle, scored six runs in the top of the seventh inning and rallied to defeat the Knights, 11-9.

Sixth-seeded Pine-Richland (9-12) will face second-seeded Seneca Valley in the semifinals Monday at a site and time to be determined.

The third-seeded Knights, who defeated Pine-Richland twice during the season, finished the season 10-9 and losing four straight games.

“I knew we still had a chance in the last inning because we were starting with the top of our lineup,” Pine-Richland coach Sam Hartzberg said. “We just kept on playing. We did a great job.

“We have been playing our best ball the last four or five games. We are starting to hit and playing as a team. I feel we can win the title.”

Norwin coach Sam Mesich said he knew it would be a high-scoring game, especially playing in the cozy confines at Plum.

“Credit Pine-Richland,” Mesich said. “We did not make some plays we needed to make. We knew this would be a runfest.

“It is tough to defeat a team three times in a season. We did the same to Mt. Lebanon last year. It has been awhile that we did not reach the semifinals.”

The teams exchanged runs in the first inning before Pine-Richland took a 2-1 lead in the second inning when Sydney Bezila doubled and scored on Olivia Moore’s infield single.

Norwin grabbed a 3-2 lead in the third inning when Chloe Bavolar hit a two-run homer.

The teams exchanged three-run homers in the fifth inning. Norah Cherry hit a rocket for Pine-Richland, and Lia Holtzman went deep for the Knights.

Leading 6-5, the Knights extended the lead to 9-5 when pitcher Abbie Telli smacked a two-run homer and Addison Grimes added an RBI.

But Pine-Richland responded in the top of the seventh inning.

Serafina Julio bunted for a hit, and Noelle Ionadi and Abbey Laurent hit back-to-back RBI doubles.

An out later, Bezila and Catherine Scholl hit back-to-back doubles to tie the score 9-9.

Scholl scored on a wild pitch, and Scarlett Edgerly, who singled, scored on a sacrifice fly.

“We felt we deserved it,” Hartzberg said.

“We played our best game of the season. We had to go out and take it.”

Norwin put two runners on in the bottom of the inning, but Bavolar grounded out to end the game.

“It’s disappointing for the seniors,” Mesich said. “They put a lot into this. We just came up short.”

Black had four hits for Norwin and Holtzman three.

Bezila had three hits, including two doubles, for Pine-Richland.