Bishop Guertin softball ;players celebrate their stunning Divison I semifinal win over No. 2 Winnacunnet Tuesday in Plymouth. (Photo by Nick Perenick)

PLYMOUTH – “The relentless pursuit of excellence” is what Bishop Guertin head coach Dakota Bilodeau has been saying to her team all season long, and the Cardinals are just one win shy of achieving excellence after her team earned another upset win in the tournament, this time 7-2 over No. 2 Winnacunnet on Tuesday evening, punching their ticket to Saturday’s NHIAA Division I finals.

Guertin was down 2-0 early but scored seven unanswered runs, five snapping a 2-2 tie in the top of the seventh.

BG’s Chloe Sellers led off the big inning and slapped a single through the left side to get on the base path. Avery Zapenas then dropped a bloop single down the left field line before Bilodeau’s single to center loaded the bases. Isabella Nutting came to the plate and dripped a double to left field, clearing the bases and giving her squad its first lead of the contest, 5-2. Bowen and Meara McDevitt each added RBI base knocks in the inning to add insurance and give BG a five-run lead.

“They have no quit in them,” Bilodeau said regarding her squad. “They came in, they did their job, and Bella (Nutting) came up with a big hit but it took baserunners to get there too.”

After BG starter Jennifer Davey gave up an RBI single to make it 2-0 in the bottom of the third, Mack Bowen came in from first to relieve. Bowen walked the first batter before retiring the side with two straight strikeouts. Bowen struck out the next two batters in the fourth before wrapping up the second inning with a groundout to short to keep the Warriors’ lethal bats at bay.

With a spark from a lockdown pitcher in Bowen, the Cards’ bats came to life in the top of the fifth as Sellers and Zapenas posted back-to-back singles in an attempt to rally. The next two batters were retired before Giavanna Bellino stepped to the plate and knocked a two-RBI single to center field to tie the game up at 2-2. Bellino was caught stealing to end the frame.

Bowen’s fifth strikeout came against the leadoff batter in the fifth before a bunt single got the Warriors back on base. A groundout to second then ended the inning.

Bowen slammed the door shut as Winnacunnet came up for the final time, striking out two of the four Warriors faced to earn the win.

Bowen tossed 4.2 shutout innings, allowing three hits and two walks as she struck out eight.

“It’s a team effort. I couldn’t have done it without my team,” said Bowen. “If they weren’t behind me then I definitely would not be confident enough to make it through there, but they kept me confident.”

“She did a really great job hitting her spots and working hard,” said Bilodeau. “G (Bellino) [is] doing a great job behind the plate too. Our catchers never get enough credit, so gotta credit her too. She did a great job coming in, owning the moment, and doing her job.”

Michaela Bowen delivers a pitch during Tuesday’s BG softball semifinal win over Winnacunnet in Plymouth. (Photo by NIck Perenick)

Michaela Bowen delivers a pitch during Tuesday’s BG softball semifinal win over Winnacunnet in Plymouth. (Photo by NIck Perenick)

The offense combined for 14 hits in the victory, with six coming in the seventh inning.

The Cardinals’ run has been nothing short of magical after earning the 11th seed in the tournament following a 10-8 regular-season finish. The win over Winnacunnet avenged a 10-1 loss back on May 7 in Nashua.

Now, Bishop Guertin will have to face off against No. 1 Londonderry in Saturday night’s title match back at D&M Park. The Lancers took down No. 5 Pinkerton in a walk-off win in the late game on Tuesday. In the only meeting of the season between the two teams, the Lancers soundly defeated BG 12-0.

“We’re just going to go to practice and prepare for whoever we’re going to have,” said Bilodeau about a championship matchup. “But we’ll enjoy it right now and then start tomorrow.”

Seven more innings of softball separate the Cardinals from excellence.