ROYERSFORD - If you’re the type of person who likes to keep a scorebook during a softball game, you likely ended Northwestern’s PIAA Class 4A quarterfinal game with one half of the book being a mess and the other being barely used.

That’s because the Tigers filled up their side of the scorebook quickly as they sent 32 batters to the plate in just five innings and eliminated Archbishop Ryan 12-2 in the second round of the state tournament on Thursday..

“It seemed like everything we put the bat on in the middle part of the game fell in somewhere, and we were able to push across a bunch of runs,” said Northwestern coach Josh Zimmerman.

The Tigers scored six runs in the fourth inning alone- combining five hits and three Ragdoll errors - to open a 9-2 lead.

One inning later, a single, walk, and a double plated a run; and a ground out brought home another run; before Abby Dunstan’s third hit and fifth RBI of the game ended things via the 10-run mercy rule.

While the Northwestern offense was in hear gear - scoring runs in four of its five at-bats - pitcher Emma Freeman kept the Archbishop Ryan side of the scorebook relatively unused.

The only flaw came in the first inning when Sabrina Pastino hit a home run to center field to put the Ragdolls up 2-0. Pastino batted over .600 this season, and was the team’s co-MVP this season along with third baseman Janine Swift.

“I know that our bats are always hot and no matter what (the opponent) does when we’re in the field, we’re just going to come in and we’re going to hit - and that’s what we did,” said Freeman about giving up the early lead.

The Tigers’ Rylee McGinley opened the bottom of the first with a double to center and scored on a single by Izzy Akelaitis, cutting the Archbishop Ryan lead to 2-1.

The Tigers took the lead in the third inning when Marissa Christman singled with two outs and Dunstan followed with a home run to center to make it 3-2.

That was all the offense Freeman needed. After hitting a batter with one out in the second, she was perfect the rest of the way, retiring 11 in a row and finishing with just one hit allowed and three strikeouts.

Although Freeman wouldn’t need it, the Tigers’ offense supplied her with plenty of insurance.

The Northwestern fourth started with a single by Josie Wehr. Shelby Mitman then hit into a fielder’s choice, but the return throw to first in an attempt to turn the double play went wide, allowing Mitman to go to second. A mental error by Archbishop Ryan led to another fielders choice that allowed Quinn Conrey to reach base safely. McGinley then dropped a perfect bunt single to load the bases. Sage Toman singled and Akelaitis reached on an error as the Tiger lead grew to 6-2. Dunstan delivered the big blow with a double to left to bring in two more runs. Freeman capped the outburst with a double to drive home Dunstan.

“I knew she (Ryan’s Moira Maw) was a good pitcher, but she wasn’t throwing anything I hadn’t seen before and I kept the same mentality that I have had throughout the season ... that I just want to get a base hit and I want it to be hard,” said Dunstan.

Northwestern used some trickery in the fifth to put the game away. McGinley singled with one out and went to second when the line drive she hit was misplayed in center. She then went to third on a wild pitch. Toman came on and worked a walk, but she never stopped at first base as she quickly made the turn and headed to second to draw a throw. As the ball headed to second, McGinley raced home with a stolen base and Toman slid safely into second. Akelaitis’ double brought in Toman before Dunstan ended the game with her RBI single.

DEFENSE ... Wanting to put his best defensive lineup on the field, Zimmerman moved Toman out from behind the plate for the second straight game and put her in left field. He then put Shelby Mitman at first and Dunstan behind the plate. Dunstan has caught before and is familiar with catching Freeman. The moves worked as the Tigers made several big defensive plays in the game.

REMATCH... Blue Mountain beat Jersey Shore 4-0 in their quarterfinal game to set up a second meeting between the two teams this postseason. Blue Mountain beat Northwestern Lehigh 4-3 in the District 11 championship game, leaving the Tigers looking for revenge. They will get their chance in the PIAA semifinals on Monday at 4 p.m. at Patriots Park in Allentown.

Archbishop Ryan 200 00 - 2 1 4

Northwestern 102 63 - 12 14 0

Maw, Suplick (5) and Chambliss; Freeman and Dunstan. W -Freeman . L- Maw. HR - Archbishop Ryan: Pastino (1st, one on). Northwestern: Dunstan (3rd, one on).