Gowanda third baseman Holland Browning, left, had a pair of run-scoring hits in the Panthers’ 3-2 victory at the Class C state semifinals on Long Island on Friday. Photo by Candy Phillips

MORICHES — Gowanda’s softball team has already made plenty of history this spring.

They’ll go for it all today.

Sophomore Holland Browning had a pair of run-scoring hits in the later innings and freshman Addison Kota threw a three-hitter in the circle as the Panthers beat Thomas Edison 3-2 in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class C semifinals Friday evening at the Moriches Athletic Complex on Long Island.

“She had a great game. She’s been grinding all year,” second-year Gowanda head coach Mike Maloney said of Browning. “She just came through tonight with two big hits at big times.”

Next up for the Section VI champions is a championship game date with SS Seward at 2 p.m. this afternoon. The Section IX champions beat Section II’s Chatham 1-0 in Friday evening’s Field 2 semifinal.

“We just downloaded their games,” Maloney said Friday evening. “We’re going to watch the last couple to check them out and see what we’re going up against.”

Gowanda and Thomas Edison, Section IV’s champion, did a great job of putting their bats on each other’s pitches throughout Friday’s Field 1 semifinal, combining to strike out just four times.

Defense and timely hitting made the difference.

The Panthers took the lead for good in the bottom of fifth inning. Kota reached on an infield single between third base and the shortstop to start the inning before stealing second with two outs. Browning followed with a single to center field and Kota beat the throw to the plate for a 3-2 lead.

That set up a nerve-wracking final six outs for the Gowanda faithful.

In the top of the sixth, the Spartans’ Emma Maggs flew out to left field before Gabby Milazzo singled. Mariana Jones-Frosolone then hit into a fielder’s choice to erase Milazzo before a walk to Maliyah McIver put runners at first and second. Kota got out of the jam with a pop-up to second baseman CC John.

“CC had a hell of a game tonight,” Maloney said. “She had some great defensive plays and came up with a big hit.”

Facing the bottom of Thomas Edison’s lineup in the seventh, Kota induced three straight groundballs that were fielded cleanly to end the game.

“She struggled today. Addi didn’t have her best tonight. She only had one strikeout and six walks,” Maloney said of Kota. “She was struggling, but she needs to see her teammates be able to pick her up. Not being at her best, she still only gave up three hits.”

The Spartans led 1-0 early when McIver walked with one out in the second, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI double by Kailey Ripley. After a groundout sent Ripley to third, Kota walked back-to-back batters to load the bases, but got out of the inning with a fielder’s choice groundball to John.

Gowanda went ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jada Geiger led off with her second single of the game and Ella Luther followed with a single. Browning then hit an RBI double and Hailey Christopher walked to load the bases. Kailyn Farner then drove in a run with a comebacker to Milazzo whose throw home was just late in an attempt to force out Luther.

With the bases loaded and no outs, Lily Bobseine followed with a groundball to shortstop, but Thomas Edison’s throw to the plate was just in time to get Browning. Milazzo limited the damage with a pop-up and a fly out to end the inning.

“She had a lot of spin on the ball,” Maloney said of Milazzo. “It was hard to make good contact on her. We just did it at the most opportune times.”

The Spartans tied the game in the top of the fifth inning. Emily Aiello reached on an error and went all the way to third when the throw ended up down the right-field line. After an unsuccessful bunt for the first out, Carissa Cowan walked. Leadoff batter Brianna Korsky then flew out to left fielder Alhanna Gabel. Aiello tagged up and scored on the play, but Cowan was thrown out attempting to advance to third by Gabel for the final out of the inning.

“That’s just a great play by Alhanna,” Maloney said. “She came up and threw it to third. It was a great play all around with a quick tag by Holland. We thought we got her before the run scored, but it still felt good.”

The lost runner proved costly in the end as Gowanda took the lead for good in the bottom half of the frame and Kota shut down Thomas Edison through the final two innings.

“When she has one of these games,” Maloney said of Kota’s uncharacteristically wild day in the circle, “usually she comes back looking good.”