PINETOWN — For the first time in 741 days, a Northside runner failed to cross home plate in a 3-0 loss to No. 11-seeded North Duplin in Game 1 of the NCHSAA 1-A eastern regional softball championship.

Against one of the top offenses in the class, North Duplin sophomore Rylee Pate was as advertised, allowing just one hit and two walks. Entering with a 0.76 ERA and an impressive 155 strikeouts in 83 innings of work, Pate showcased a deep arsenal of pitches and capped the game off with a perfect final six innings. She finished with nine strikeouts.

“I saw a great, confident young pitcher,” said head coach Riley Youmans. “She’s very good, throws the ball well and is confident in placing the ball all over the plate. It’s just a matter of adjusting to it and putting the bat on the ball, which we did not do tonight. Hopefully we’ll work on it (in practice) and come back with our bats ready.”

Both Pate and Rachel Lang dazzled through the final innings, but the game was undoubtedly decided in the first, where a fielding error and a controversial call gave the visitors all the momentum they needed.

Kelsey Lang, the starter, struck out leadoff hitter Mikayla Koch to start the game and Pate responded with a hard hit single to left field. Then, Shaily McCarty hit a routine grounder to third base. Attempting to cut the runner down at second, Mackensi Swain pivoted and fired a throw above the second baseman’s glove. The ball trickled to the fence in right field, scoring Pate and advancing McCarty to third. The error, however, proved not to be the deciding factor, as Haley Brogden and Alyssa Santos followed with back-to-back singles, plating McCarty and giving North Duplin an early 2-0 lead.

With one out and two runners on, Youmans made an early pitching change and the move paid off. Rachel Lang came in to relieve her sister and shut the door, striking out next two batters on eight pitches to escape the inning.

In the bottom of the frame, Pate fanned Alex Adams on four pitches, but would walk Mackensi Swain and Kelsey Lang, as Quortasia Clark came in to pinch run for Lang. Following a ground out from Kendall Alligood, which advanced both runners, Rachel Lang smashed a single up the middle about four feet out of the reach of McCarty, the shortstop. But Clark collided with a diving McCarty, who went down. While Swain and Clark came around to score, the umpire ruled runner interference, ending the inning and denying Northside of not one, but both runs.

Through the final six innings, Rachel Lang kept the Rebels lineup at bay, allowing just three hits and one run in the seventh, the product of two doubles. But Pate was too good and retired the next 18 batters, continuing what’s been an utterly dominant postseason.

“It was a very tough loss,” Youmans said. “Like we talked about earlier, the team that makes the least mistakes, it’s going to pay off. We made a couple of mistakes, but it’s over with and done with. We need to focus on tomorrow’s practice and focus on what we have to do Friday.”

The Rebels have now allowed just one run in their last eight contests, while No. 1-seeded Northside’s severe offensive deficiencies continue, having recorded just 11 hits in three games.

“When you reach the regionals and you’re headed to the state, this is what to expect. Every team is good,” Youmans said. “Do I think they’re any better than we are? No I don’t. I’m not taking anything away from them, but we’re a good team, they’re a good team and the pitcher is very confident in her ability. We are too.”

The loss is the Panthers first of the season, dropping their record to 24-1, while North Duplin improves to 17-3-1.

Now needed a road win to advance, Northside will travel to Mt. Olive on Friday in hopes of forcing a Game 3. Rachel Lang and Pate are the probable starters. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.