Mounds View will get a chance to defend its Class 3A title.

Ryan Plasencia’s walk-off single propelled the Mustangs past Lakeville North 2-1 in Friday afternoon’s Class 3A state baseball semifinals at Midway Stadium.

Mounds View starting pitcher Kellen Rholl allowed only three hits, walked one and struck out none in the complete-game victory. The defense was just as impressive, handling all 21 outs in the field without an error.

“We can trust everyone on the field. Everyone can make plays. We haven’t had a problem with errors all year,” second baseman Plasencia said after saving a run in the fifth inning by tracking down a pop-up in shallow right field.

Mounds View found a way to capitalize on the only error of the otherwise well-executed game’s only error. A high throw to first base allowed Ethan Madsen to score in the third inning.

Lakeville North struggled to adjust to Rholl’s throwing motion. The lefty drops down in his delivery to throw mostly sidearm. Panthers’ starter Nick Dorfman was just as effective, giving up just four hits in 6 1/3 innings, but got into trouble in the seventh inning after surrendering a leadoff single.

The two teams combined for only seven hits, with two of the Mustangs’ four coming in the bottom of the seventh. Plasencia’s walk-off single to right field scored Wyatt Meyer from second base. Tucker Gran was 2-for-2 at the plate on the slow offensive day.

“Timely hitting like that is why we’ve won the last 14 games,” Rholl said. “We went out and played defense and had timely hitting and won the game.”

Lakeville North tied the score 1-1 in the sixth inning. Kyle Sticha’s leadoff double was followed by a sacrifice bunt by Drew Stewart and a sacrifice fly by AJ Sayer.

“It was a pitchers’ duel all game and they put together the hits at the end,” Lakeville North junior shortstop Angelo Altavilla said. “[Rholl] had a different motion and mixed it up well. We’re not really used [to being shut down]. We pretty much hit the ball all season.”

The Mustangs’ pitching staff has produced back-to-back complete-games. Henry Decaster was scheduled to start Saturday’s 6 p.m. championship game at Target Field, but inclement weather pushed the finale to Monday.

Mounds View coach Mark Downey said he will consider starting fourth-round draft pick Sam Hentges on three days’ rest. However, with Decaster’s success this year, the team was excited to have him on the mound for a chance to repeat as state champions.

First report

Ryan Plasencia’s walk-off single earned Mounds the right to defend its Class 3A title in the championship game.

The line drive to right field propelled the Mustangs past Lakeville North 2-1 in Friday afternoon’s Class 3A state baseball semifinals at Midway Stadium.

Mounds View starter Kellen Rholl picked up the complete-game victory. He allowed only three hits, walked one and struck out none.

Lakeville North starter Nick Dorfman lost his first game of the season after giving up four hits, three walks and striking out two.

JASON GONZALEZ