Miranda Kinney’s lead-off double to left center field in the bottom of the fifth inning was the start of runs on the board for the Liberty Hurricanes in their 2-0 victory over Penn Manor in the first round of PIAA State Class 6A softball playoffs on Monday at Pates Park.

“I heard their pitcher [Brittany Hook] was pretty good with her rise ball and change up, but I knew we needed this for the team, and I wanted to start something,” Kinney said.

Jess Watts followed with a double to right field, and the Hurricanes took a 1-0 lead.

“I knew she’d be throwing speed, so if I put my hands through the zone, it was going to go,” said Watts.

Skilee Diaz had a double to right center in the bottom of the sixth, stole third base on a wild pitch, and scored on Reyna DeJesus’s sacrifice fly.

“I didn’t get on in my previous at bat, so going into the huddle, Coach Sam [Carrodo] said we had to make the most of it, so I did what I could to get on,” Diaz said.

Paige Zigmund was the winning pitcher and threw nine strikeouts.

Hurricane catcher Cailin Donegan, who ran out to talk to Zigmund in the third inning, had a double earlier in the game.

“I just wanted to talk to her and change the pace of the game. I said, I believe and you believe, and just throw strikes,” said Donegan.

Penn Manor had two runners on base in the top of the sixth inning but could not score.

Liberty will take on Spring-Ford in the 6A state quarterfinal on Thursday at a time and place to be determined.