If No. 3-seeded Warwick PAL continues to pitch to form, it will be difficult to beat going forward in the postseason.

Dan Reph tossed a one-hitter in Game 1 and Dillon Bordeleau went the distance on just 90 pitches in Game 2 to lead PAL over No. 11 Flood Auto and into the state semifinals. Reph’s effort led to a 3-2 victory at Mickey Stevens on Friday, giving PAL all the momentum it required going into Saturday’s matchup at Hendricken.

PAL’s offense provided three runs in the first inning of Game 2, which was all Bordeleau would need. He held Hendricken to one run on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts. PAL added some insurance late to secure the 5-1 victory.

“When he’s on, he’s tough to hit because he mixes his pitches up and he’s always around the strike zone,” Warwick PAL manager Mike Martin said of Bordeleau. “He can throw all three pitches for strikes at any time, and he’s a smart pitcher. He knows what he’s doing, and Owen [Kiernan] behind the plate calls a great game.”

Experience set PAL over the top, as the combination of post-grad players with high school juniors and seniors gave it an advantage over a much younger Flood squad. The difference was clear with Bordeleau toeing the rubber, as he served in the senior captain role at La Salle last season.

“It makes a big difference, especially when it’s a close game,” Martin said of his veteran crew. “Those senior kids, they’ve been in that position a few more times than the younger kids, and it makes a big difference when you force kids to make plays, sometimes the younger kids, they freeze a little bit. The older kids have been through it, they’ve made their mistakes and they’ve learned from those.”

Flood starter Rob Vaillancourt experienced intermittent control issues, and PAL would take every opportunity it received. Steve Foster reached scoring position with two outs after Dylan Palmiotti’s grounder, where he would score on a wild pitch to give PAL an early 1-0 lead.

Alec Bloomingburgh walked on four pitches before Jordan Huntoon fought off a 1-2 pitch into right field that put runners at the corners. PAL then executed a double steal, and catcher Manny Urbaez took the bait. His throw down to second allowed Bloomingburgh to trot home with the game’s second run.

The only recorded RBI of the day for Warwick came next with Brandon Paiva’s bloop single into right center, plating Huntoon. Before Bordeleau picked up the ball, his side spotted him a 3-0 lead.

It was more than enough for the right-hander. After allowing Jaimen Albizu to reach second base with two outs, he fooled Will Panarello on a 2-2 pitch to end the threat. He would have quick innings in the second and third before encountering his biggest obstacle in the fourth.

Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with no one out for Flood, sending the lead run to the plate in Braydon Dolbashion. Bordeleau managed to work an infield fly to get the first out, followed by an around-the-horn double play to escape the jam.

“Defensively, we were great,” Martin said. “Everybody in that field fielded their position very well. That’s a good team we just played. They’re a very good hitting team, they’re sound defensively, they’re sound offensively. They’ve got good pitchers, and we found some spots.”

Defense turned into offense for PAL in the fifth inning. Foster’s one-out single started the rally, where he came around to score without the benefit of a hit. He swiped second and third before dashing home on another wild pitch.

Control problems persisted from there, too. Vaillancourt worked three consecutive full counts, with the first two leading to a walk and strikeout. Huntoon wouldn’t wait around on his 3-2 pitch, flaring a double into center field to put two runners in scoring position with two outs for Paiva.

He wouldn’t need to lift the bat off his shoulders, though, as Urbaez couldn’t corral another ball in the dirt. Palmiotti scampered home with the third PAL run scored by way of the wild pitch.

“I knew we needed a couple more runs just to make sure,” Martin said. “The kids played very, very well. Everybody played well. I’ve got nothing but good things to say.”

Vaillancourt’s day ended after five innings. He allowed his five earned runs on just four hits, but he walked five to go with the three run-scoring wild pitches.

“He’s got good speed on his fastball,” Flood manager Bryan Leahey said of Vaillancourt. “When he’s able to spot his pitches, he’s able to dominate. We have Coach [Chris] Sheehan, one of the better pitching coaches, so he’ll help him immensely.”

Flood got one back on a fielder’s choice in the fifth, but Bordeleau settled down for the final few innings. He stranded four runners in the final three frames, and his ability to get quick outs helped him wriggle out of tough situations. Bordeleau recorded 11 outs on three or fewer pitches, including the final two of the game. He never threw more than 17 pitches in an inning.

“All around, there’s not one bad thing I can say about any player,” Leahey said. “From when I got them in the middle of June to now, everybody’s improved, everybody’s gotten better. Overall, I think we’ve got some guys who are going to help the program for the years to come, which is always the key for us.”

PAL moves on to the Final Four, where it will face No. 2 Slocum (North Kingstown) for the right to advance to the championship round. Game 1 is set for today at Lischio Field at 5:30 p.m. before the series shifts to Mickey Stevens on Wednesday.

Zach D’Andrea is slated to start the first game for PAL.

“They’re a very, very good team,” Martin said of Slocum. “It’s going to be a good battle. We’re looking forward to going. We’ll see what happens.”