With the title game held at Panik Field, the two played a third and final time.

The road wasn’t an easy one for Nittany Valley.

Playing four consecutive games in a row, the feisty Nittany Valley crew came back to take the District 5 title, 5-1, to advance to sectionals.

Picking up the series clincher was Riley Solt who combined with some strong defensive play tossed a three hitter. Solt had a no-hit bid going into the fourth.

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Nittany Valley players pose with the District 5 major softball championship banner after beating State College.

State College pitcher Vivian Petrich was almost as tough as she two-hit shutout going into the fourth.

“I can’t say enough about this team. I think I was more nervous coming into it. It’s just another softball game for them,” said Nittany Valley coach Ryan Tubbs. “They came out, and it was a battle for four innings. We got a lead there, and I liked our chances. I knew the bottom of the order was coming up, and Riley was pretty dominant tonight, so when you got strong pitching that can do that for you.”

Nittany Valley won the toss and chose to be the home team. Defensively, Nittany Valley shut down State College. Offensively, the Nittany Valley squad threatened early in the first.

Leadoff hitter Grayson Bair led off with a blooping single. With two outs, Solt reached base as she plastered a single into left field, putting runners on the corners.

Avelyn Henry loaded the bases as she was hit by a pitch.

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Nittany Valley's Mackenzie Kellogg reacts during Friday's District 5 major softball championship game against State College. Nittany Valley won both games of a doubleheader vs. State College to win the title.

But State College was able to end the threat, taking a scoreless contest into the second. Both defenses took over from there as both shut down the other’s offenses for the second and third innings.

State College got on the board in the fourth.

Ruby Garis hustled out and reached on a Nittany Valley miscue. She scored on a blast to right field for an RBI double, giving State the lead heading into the bottom of the fourth.

The lead would only temporary as Nittany Valley battled back to tie the contest.

Sydney Smith hustled out an infield single to third. Mackenzie Kellogg reached on an error. Solt, who had two hits on the afternoon, smashed an RBI single to right, knotting things at one.

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Nittany Valley's Kenzie Weber catches a fly ball in the outfield during Friday's District 5 major softball championship game against State College. Nittany Valley won both games of a doubleheader vs. State College to win the title.

Nittany Valley’s Trinity King made the play of the game.

With a runner on second, Petrich sent a high fly ball to King. She caught the ball and ran down State College’s Caroline Fry who saw third base open after King’s catch.

Kings speed caught Fry just before the base for the double play.

Nittany Valley used that momentum as they went into the fifth.

Teammate Olivia King got the offense going in the bottom of the inning, with a walk.

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Nittany Valley's Riley Solt records a hit during Friday's District 5 major softball championship game against State College. Nittany Valley won both games of a doubleheader vs. State College to win the title.

She scored on a blast from Laura Roan landing her with an RBI triple and her team the lead at 2-1.

Kenzie Weber’s infield single scored Roan. Bair continued the rally with a walk. Smith singled to third. Kellogg reached on an error, setting the stage for Solt. Solt did not disappoint as she smashed a laser into right field scoring both Weber and Bair.

That would be all Nittany Valley would need as they took care of State College’s in the sixth, Solt wrapped things up shutting down 3 of 4 batters she faced in the inning to clinch the District 5 major softball championship.

Nittany Valley 4, State College 3

(4 INNINGS)

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Nittany Valley's Sydney Smith slides home and scores a run during Friday's District 5 major softball championship game against State College. Nittany Valley won both games of a doubleheader vs. State College to win the title.

(GAME ONE)

With a Wednesday win against Mifflin County, the Nittany Valley majors traveled to Boalsburg to take on the undefeated State College softball team in a must-win for the visitors.

The team from Nittany Valley forced a winner-take-all championship as they defeated State College 4-3 in a rain-shortened contest to force the if game.

Earlier in the week, State College got the best of Nittany Valley, giving them their first loss.

With Mother Nature making her presence known, the two teams could not survive the fourth inning terrential down pours and lightning strike after waiting over two hours to play.

In the first Nittany Valley struck posting a two-run inning. Grayson Bair led off the game with a double. She stole third and scored on an RBI single by Sydney Smith.

Smith advanced to second on a wild pitch and later scored on a Mackenzie Kellogg single into right field. State College battled right back as they tied the contest in the bottom of the inning.

Violet DeDonato walked. With two out, she was replaced on the base paths by courtesy runner Capri Lawson. Vivian Petrich walked as well. She was also replaced by a courtesy runner. This time it was Ava Zook that came in to run.

Both scored on a Caroline Fry blast into left field, tying the game as the game headed into the second.

After a scoreless second, the Nits got some more production from the top of the order, scoring two more.

With two outs, Bair hustled out an infield single. Smith picked up her second hit of the contest with a crushing triple, scoring Bair. Kellogg added an RBI single to score Bair.

Defensively, Nittany Valley held State College to just one run in the third, cutting it to 4-3. Both were scoreless in the fourth.

Then the rains came, producing violent lightning storms and hail to the area.

Riley Solt picked up the win for Nittany Valley. After an hour delay on Thursday, the field was almost ready to be playable before another strong storm came through. With the fields deemed unplayable Nittany Valleu notched the win to put them in the title tilt on Friday and Nittany Valley won both games to win the title.

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Nittany Valley's Austyn Henry and Mackenzie Kellogg talk to each other during Friday's District 5 major softball championship game against State College. Nittany Valley won both games of a doubleheader vs. State College to win the title.

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Nittany Valley's Olivia King celebrates after recording a hit during Friday's District 5 major softball championship game against State College. Nittany Valley won both games of a doubleheader vs. State College to win the title.

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Nittany Valley players celebrate after scoring a run during Friday's District 5 major softball championship game against State College. Nittany Valley won both games of a doubleheader vs. State College to win the title.