But Tuesday’s game wasn’t played on paper.

Warrior Run stunned Loyalsock, 2-1, in eight innings, behind a stellar pitching performance by Mackenzie Litchard and fantastic defense behind her to advance to Thursday’s semifinals against Montoursville at Elm Park in Williamsport.

“She was outstanding today. She really pitched today. She was a mechanic, a surgeon out there today,” Warrior Run coach Mark Evans said.

Litchard wasn’t lighting up any radar guns on Tuesday, but she didn’t need to. She pitched effectively to the edges of the zone on both sides of the plate, and changed speeds and eye levels seemingly at will.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock pitcher Easton Waller (12) fields a pop-up for an out in the fourth inning.

That kept a potent Lancer lineup off-balance all day, as she struck out nine and induced plenty of weak contact. Loyalsock was able to tag her in the second meeting between the two teams, but Litchard made some adjustments for success.

“I was just having really good trust in my defense and knowing that if the ball gets hit, it’s going to get caught. I have a lot of trust in them. I was just trying to hit my spots, work down in the zone, and treat every batter like a new batter,” Litchard said.

Loyalsock took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a Sophia Miller double down the rightfield line. The Defenders tied the game in the fourth when three straight one-out walks led to a run on a two-out error to tie the game at one.

The score stayed tied through the regulation seven innings, with both teams having the top of the order up in the eighth inning. Warrior Run made sure to capitalize.

Ella Pritzenhoff led off with a walk and stole second with one out before Cait Waltman hit a flair right on the second base bag. A play was made to try to get Pritzenhoff at third base, but the ball was thrown away and Pritzenhoff scored. Loyalsock pitcher Easton Waller, terrific in her own right on Tuesday, was able to limit the damage to just one, but the Defenders had a crucial lead.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock third baseman Kinsie Phillips (7) throws to first base for an out.

And four batters later, when Pritzenhoff induced a game-ending pop-up in foul territory, Warrior Run punched their ticket to the district semifinals.

“It feels really good. I’m really excited to move on. This is the first time in my high school career that we’ve made it past the first round, and I’m excited to see where it takes us,” Litchard said.

For Loyalsock, it was a bitter end to a banner-raising season as the Lancers won their fourth straight HAC-III title. But the Lancers had bigger goals, and this loss meant they fell short of what they felt they could accomplish.

“It just wasn’t our day. They came out, and let me tell you, she pitched a heck of a game. She had her changeup working, kept us off balance with fastballs and rise balls, and mixed in the changeup really well. I don’t think we had very good approaches at the plate, and I felt like we’d been hitting the ball well lately, but she kept us off balance. Hats off to them. They made all the plays defensively. Their shortstop is a heck of a player, their left fielder played well, they all played well, and they made the plays,” Loyalsock coach Casey Waller said. “I’m proud of the seniors. They came together as a group, trusted us and the coaching staff, and I felt like we were starting to come around at the end. Like I said, today just wasn’t our day. That’s ball, and that’s life. Some days it’s your day, and some days it’s not.”

Warrior Run 2, Loyalsock 1

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Warrior Run pitcher Mackenzie Litchard delivers a pitch to Loyalsock.

Warrior Run 000 100 01 — 2 3 1

Loyalsock 010 000 00 — 1 6 2

Mackenzie Litchard and Rylee Reeder. Easton Waller and Shyla Fulp. W: Litchard. L: Waller.

Top Warrior Run hitters: Maura Woland 1B; Cait Waltman 1B; Mackenzie Litchard 1B. Top Loyalsock hitters: Addy Baroway 2-3, BB; Sophia Miller 2-3, 2B, RBI.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Warrior Run Myra Woland (2) prepares to tag Loyalsock's Addi Barowy (23) at second base in the bottom of the eight inning. Barowy was safe on the play.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock center fielder Sophia Miller (18) chases down a fly ball for an out in the seventh inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Warrior Run's Ella Printzenhoff (37) heads for home to score the go-ahead run in the top of the eight inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock short stop Addi Barowy (23) tages out Warrior Run's Elyce Johnson (15) on a bunt and single by Rylee Reeder (12) in the seventh inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock catcher Shyla Fulp tries to field a pop up in the seventh inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Warrior Run's Rylee Reeder (12) attempts a bunt in the seventh inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock third baseman Kensie Phillips (7) tries to field a ground ball but comes up empty handed on a single by Warrior Run's Mackenzie Litchard (8) in the seventh inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Warrior Run left fielder Makenzie Heffner (18) digs out a fly ball for an out in the fourth inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Maddie Wertz (30) heads for home to score on a double by sophia Miller in the second inning. inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Warrior Run left fielder Makenzie Heffner (18) digs out a fly ball for an out in the fourth inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Warrior Run short stop Myra Woland (2) grabs a line drive for an out to end the first inning.