Holderness, n.h. — After several weeks of summer-like weather, Wednesday evening’s chilly conditions at Plymouth State University were a bit of a shock to the system during the NHIAA Division IV softball semifinals between Portsmouth Christian and Sunapee.

No matter for the unbeaten Lakers, who stayed hot while dispatching the Eagles, 7-1, at Chase Field.

Junior pitcher Katie Frederick homered as part of a five-RBI night and batterymate Lexie Hamilton drove in two more as No. 1 Sunapee (19-0) advanced to Saturday’s championship game against Gorham back at Chase. The No. 2 Huskies edged Moultonborough in Wednesday’s early semi, 3-2.

Frederick drove a 3-1 pitch over the left-field fence with two on in the third inning — her third deep ball of the year — to make it 4-0. She also drove in runs on sacrifice fly balls in the first and sixth innings.

“Katie’s a complete hitter; that’s why she hits in the No. 3 spot for us,” said Sunapee coach Bonnie Cruz, whose program was a first-time title winner a year ago. “It’s always important to hit the ball well early, get a boost and get some confidence.”

Frederick was also strong in the circle in the complete game, allowing three hits, striking out five and needing just nine pitches to retire the side in both the third and fourth innings.

Sunapee wasn’t quite as productive as it’s accustomed to, held to seven or fewer runs for just the seventh time this year. The Lakers had scored in double figures four straight games leading into Saturday’s 6-5 quarterfinal win over Woodsville.

Sunapee chased starting pitcher Ashley Vining (five hits, four runs, three earned, walk, two strikeouts) when leadoff hitter Rachel Malanga had a base hit up the middle with two outs in the fourth. Reliever Cyann Karnes struck out Meghan Frederick to strand the bases loaded, keeping it 4-0.

Portsmouth Christian got on the board in the fifth, with catcher Emily Brashear cranking a leadoff double to left before scoring on a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Rebecca Heidt to make it 4-1.

For a Sunapee team that entered the game having won 18 straight games by an average score of 11-2, even a three-run lead in the fifth was a bit to close for Cruz’s liking.

“There’s definitely some concern there, because you know Portsmouth Christian made it this far for a reason and that they have players who can hit the ball,” she said.

Frederick and Hamilton helped ease the worries, the former leading off the bottom of the fifth by hustling out a double on a ball hit to shallow right. Hamilton drove her in with a single during the next at bat to make it 5-1.

Frederick had her lone hiccup in the circle to start the sixth, issuing balls on eight of nine pitches to walk the first two Eagles in the frame, prompting a conference with Hamilton.

“I just had to refocus there,” the pitcher said. “I wasn’t throwing like myself there for a minute, but Lexie helped me settle back in.”

The catcher also helped her get out of the inning, tracking down a high pop foul near the backstop for one out before alertly throwing to third base to catch Portsmouth Christian’s Danielle Brashear in a rundown after she’d failed to tag up.

“That was such a heads-up play by Lexie, knowing the (Brashear) had run while still concentrating to catch the ball,” Cruz said. “She’s an aggressive player and those are the kinds of plays we need.”

Sunapee added two more insurance runs in the sixth, Katie Frederick sending in Malanga (fielder’s choice) home with another sacrifice fly and Meghan Frederick (ground rule double) coming in on Hamilton’s third single.

Frederick issued a one-out walk to pinch hitter Bryn Lauer in the top of the seventh, but the Lakers ended the game on another double play, tagging up Lauer after right fielder Shantel Camber’s put out.

Sunapee’s defense was virtually flawless, gathering all seven fly out opportunities and turning as many infield assists.

“The outfield played a great game for us,” Cruz said. “That was another big key to the game in my mind.”

Extra Bases: Katie Frederick’s first sacrifice fly drove in Malanga (lead off double) in the first inning. … Sunapee’s baseball team also beat Portsmouth Christian in a semi at PSU on Wednesday, avenging a loss in last year’s final with a 10-1 win before softball began. … Eagle runners were plunked twice early, Vining struck by third baseman Faith Larpenter’s throw on a bunt in the first inning and Madison Thyng hit by Hamilton’s throw on a pickoff attempt in the second. … The Eagles lost in the semis for the third straight year after having never gotten as far prior to 2014, according to coach Michael Vining. … Vining unsuccessfully argued for base runner interference on Sunapee’s first double play. … Cruz won two Vermont Division II state titles as a second baseman for Randolph in 1988-89. … Saturday’s first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Jared Pendak can be reached at jpendak@vnews.com or 603-727-3225.