SOUTH CHINA -- She beat 'em with her arm and she beat 'em with her bat.

In fact, about the only thing Erskine pitcher Sam Morse didn't do Saturday in a 13-1 Eastern B semifinal victory against Gardiner was sing the national anthem.

"No," Morse said, "I can't sing at all."

Of course, Morse didn't come to sing an anthem or any other melody; no, she came to take her team to the regional finals.

And that's just what she did. The junior struck out four, scattered three hits and clubbed a three-run home run to lead the No. 7 Eagles (15-4) into a regional final for the first time in five years. Erskine will play either Medomak Valley at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Brewer High School.

For No. 11 Gardiner (8-11), an improbable playoff run came to an abrupt end. The Tigers used a regular-season victory against Western B power Maranacook to slip into the field.

They then ousted Presque Isle and Belfast to reach the semifinals.

"The only reason we're here is because of that win (against Maranacook)," Gardiner coach Conrad Lewis said. "It gave us some confidence, but (Morse) is one of the best pitchers in the league. When you fall behind early, it's hard to convince yourselves that you can come back."

The Eagles jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning that chased Gardiner pitcher Cassie Snell from the game. Morse lined an RBI double to left-center and Carleigh Wilson singled home a run to highlight the outburst.

The lead swelled to 9-0 in the second inning, thanks to an RBI bloop double from Monique Moore and a three-run home run to straight-away center from Morse, who went 2 for 3 with four RBIs. The blast, her second of the season, was estimated at 240 feet.

"It was right in my wheelhouse," Morse said, "and I took it for a ride."

Added Moore, who went 1 for 4 with an RBI: "Our bats warmed up (Saturday). We were breaking through. We were all in a groove."

Erskine added a pair in the third when catcher Meryl Bond crushed a fastball off reliever Hannah Lawrence over the mesh fence in left for a two-run homer.

It was her third home run of the season.

"I wanted to make solid contact," said Bond, who went 4 for 4 with two RBIs. "When I hit it, it felt good. All of my home runs were in the same spot."

The home runs were part of a 14-hit barrage for the Eagles, who coach Mike Soule said finally began making solid contact late in the season.

"When they unload on balls like that, it's a confidence-booster," he said. "We started putting balls in play in the middle of the season, but they were little trickles. Since the last game of the regular season we've been really hitting the ball hard."

Gardiner scored its run in the top of the fourth on a sacrifice fly from catcher Alecia Griffin. Third baseman Ashley Abbott opened the fourth with a line-drive triple to deep right-center.

Bill Stewart -- 623-3811, ext. 515

bstewart@centralmaine.com