Sentinel photo by MIKE GOSS
Mount Union’s Steve Brumbaugh, right, slides successfully into third base as Hopewell’s Enzo Palumbo attempts the tag.

HOMER CITY — Seth Smith tossed a four-hit shutout to lead the Mount Union baseball team to its first PIAA semifinal appearance since 2012 after defeating Hopewell 4-0 in the Class 3A quarterfinals at First Commonwealth Bank Field on Thursday.

The Trojans (23-3) face District 10 champion Franklin (23-1), a 6-3 winner over Philipsburg-Osceola, in the semifinals on Monday at a site and time to be determined.

“It’s a great feeling. This is what we played for all year long. We played to get into the district final and that gets you a ticket into the state playoffs,” Mount Union coach Tim Hicks said. “Once you get into the tournament, everyone has a shot. I can’t be more happy for these guys. They work so hard in the offseason and practice and the way they’re playing now, I don’t know anyone who deserves it more. It’s awesome to be where we are.”

Smith pitched an efficient game, throwing 81 pitches and allowing the Vikings to get in scoring position only twice, in the first and in the seventh innings.

“Seth does the same thing every game. He goes out, throws strikes. He’s able to throw two or three different pitches for strikes, he keeps them guessing,” Hicks said. “He gets guys to put the ball in play. He relies on his defense to do the work. We don’t ask him to strike guys out and that’s what he does. They don’t hit it very hard and the defense makes the plays.”

Smith (9-0) struck out two and walked one to remain unbeaten on the season. He faced only four over the minimum number of Hopewell batters.

“I had all three pitches working. Coming into this game, I figured I’m going to do what I did all year and that was let the defense make plays and I knew we would score runs,” Smith said. “It’s easier pitching with a lead. We’re in the state playoffs, so I was going to give it everything I had no matter what. We got two more to go.”

Hicks was effusive in his praise for the Trojan defense.

“Our defense played fantastic all seven innings. They made some great plays. Grayson McClain ran down a couple balls in center field and Quinnten Fultz did the same in right,” Hicks said. “Ethan Carbaugh made some tough plays at shortstop. I can’t be more proud of these guys.”

Mount Union got all the runs they needed in the first inning against Viking starter Roman Gill. McClain led off the contest with a walk and stole second. Matt Harshbarger followed with a base hit to left, plating McClain.

Dylan Gearhart singled to left and Quinton Posey hit a knock to left bringing home Harshbarger to make it 2-0. Kobe Hand singled home Gearhart and later scored on a Viking error to make it 4-0. Mount Union chased Gill after one inning. The Trojans finished with 11 hits but left nine men on base.

“You always hope you can shut the other team out but at the same time we got those four runs and a nice cushion. We said, ‘Let’s keep getting more,'” Hicks said. “We put pressure on them. We had base runners every inning. We hit the ball hard, we just couldn’t get another run across. That was frustrating but hey, we got a win and that’s all that matters.”

Hopewell (18-7) threatened in the first when Josh Miklos reached on a single, went to second on sacrifice and moved to third on a groundout. Smith got Alex Kunzmann, who pitched six shutout innings in relief for the Vikings, to fly out to end the threat.

Hopewell had runners on first and second in the seventh but Anthony LaSala grounded out to Smith to end the game and set off the boisterous celebration by the Trojan faithful.

“We got down early and couldn’t do much after that. Their pitcher threw a great game, mixed his pitches and kept us off balance,” Hopewell coach Jerry Fontana said. “Give Mount Union credit. They hit the ball hard, played great defense and had great pitching. They are a solid team.”

McCain, Harshbarger, Gearhart and Hand had two hits each for the Trojans.

Mount Union 4, Hopewell 0

Mount Union 400 000 0 — 4-11-0

Hopewell 000 000 0 — 0-4-2

WP: Seth Smith. LP: Roman Gill. SO: Smith 2 (MU); Alex Kunzmann 4 (H). BB: Smith 2 (MU); Gill, Kunzmann (H). MH: Grayson McClain 2-3, Matt Harshbarger 2-3, Dylan Gearhart 2-4, Kobe Hand 2-4 (MU). RBI: Harshbarger, Hand, Quinton Posey (MU).