TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Nittany Valley’s Ella Herr swings her bat at a ball during Monday evening’s 7-0 win over Four Leaf.

BELLEFONTE – It was a battle of the unbeatens Monday as Nittany Valley hosted Four Leaf in the second round of 12-year-old All-Star action.

Nittany Valley got off to an early two-run lead before exploding for a 7-0 lead going into the fifth.

In the end, the “Blue and Red” took the contest at the same 7-0 score.

Abby Herr notched the victory, posting eight strikeouts in the victory.

Four Leaf pitcher Bella Nelson struck out seven, allowing eight hits.

Starting in the visitor position, Four Leaf had the first at bats.

Nittany Valley opened with two outs, but Four Leaf notched hits by Aubrey Chutko and Lindsay Bainey put runners on first and second.

But Nittany Valley’s defense was able to get the out they needed to keep the game scoreless going into its first at bats.

With one out, Harper Bair laid down a picture-perfect bunt single to notch the teams first hit.

With two outs, she stole second.

Abby Herr followed up with a walk and moved up to second as Bair moved to third.

Ella Herr tripled in both Abby Herr and Bair as she lifted a shot into left field. Herr then moved up to third.

Emerson Holderman walked and stole second, putting runners once again in scoring position.

But Four Leaf held off a possible big inning, keeping the game at 2-0. Nittany Valley hurler Abby Herr struck out 2-of-3 in the second.

Payton Norfolk started the Nittany Valley offense in the second. She patiently waited at the plate and walked.

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express
Nittany Valley’s Nora Brown takes a look at a pitch during Monday evening’s 7-0 win over Four Leaf.

Teammate Nora Brown followed with a walk of her own, putting runners on first and second.

That set the stage for leadoff hitter Sloan Moore. Moore did not disappoint as she roped a stand-up double, scoring both Norfolk and Brown.

Going into the third, Nittany Valley held a 4-0 advantage.

Addy Gregory got Four Leaf a lead-off runner in the third, taking first on a walk as she then stole second. Gregory put herself one base away from scoring as she advanced on a fielders choice.

Adrienne Masullo got the bottom of the inning started for Nittany Valley to with a walk.

With one out, Ella Herr went to right field, moving Masullo up to third. Herr stole second, putting both Nittany Valley runners in scoring position.

However, Four Leaf Nelson struck out two consecutive batters to end the threat.

Lindsey Bainey, who posted two hits in the game, slapped a single into shallow center. Bainey stole second and moved up to third on a fielders choice.

But Nittany Valley held, keeping the shut out in tact, going into the fifth.

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express
Nittany Valley’s Grace Ammerman swings at a pitch during Monday afternoon’s win over Four Leaf.

With two outs, Moore added to her offensive prowess as she hustled out an inside-the-park home run as she grounded a laser shot that went right over the base at third.

On the hit, she scored teammates Brown and Ammerman who were on base at the time.

Bair kept the inning going with a single. Nittany Valley held a 7-0 advantage going into the fifth.

Masullo came in as relief in the top of the sixth to put the game on ice.

Four Leaf refused to go down without a fight, loading the bases in their last at bats but Nittany Valley kept them from scoring.

From there, the Nittany Valley group improved to 2-0 in the victory.