BETHEL — When pitcher Kayla Merrill gets in a zone with an early lead, the rest of the Telstar softball team settles in behind her.

That’s exactly what transpired Friday afternoon in a Western Class C quarterfinal playoff game.

The top-ranked Rebels erupted for five runs in the first two innings and Kayla Merrill finished with a three-hit shutout in Telstar’s 5-0 victory over No. 8 Sacopee Valley.

Lyndsay Merrill scored two runs and Nicena Walker hit a two-run single to lead the offense.

Telstar (15-1) will host Mt. Abram in the semifinals at 1 pm, Saturday. The Rebels beat M.t Abram twice by identical 9-0 scores this season.

“Both of those games were closer than the score,” Rebel senior right fielder T.J. Cowin said, who had a double and a single. “It was like today’s game, we didn’t come in taking anything for granted, and we knew that we needed to work hard.”

Telstar jumped out quick. Lyndsay Merrill hit a ground-rule double in to the bushes in left field, advanced on a passed ball and raced home on a Lindsey James sacrifice fly. Kayla Merrill then reached when the Sacopee Valley catcher dropped a high pop-up at home plate and Cowin smashed a ground-rule double. Hawk pitcher Stacey Whitney struck out Hannah Morin, but Walker delivered an opposite-field single, scoring both runners for a 3-0 lead.

“The fast start really helped,” senior catcher Sam Largess said, who gunned out Whitney by three feet at second base to end the first inning. “It was important for us to get those three outs right away and then come in and hit the ball with authority.”

Merrill (15-1) had all the support necessary as the right-hander allowed three hits, struck out six and walked one. Courtney Burnell tripled leading off the fourth for the Hawks, but Justine Ruhlin bunted the ball toward the circle and Merrill threw to Largess, who tagged out Burnell.

“We knew coming in that we needed to work together,” Kayla Merrill said. “Anything could have happened, and we got the momentum early, but like all-season long, we didn’t score any more runs. We need to finish games.’’

In the second inning, Tasha Farnum and Lindsay Merrill each walked and James laid down a sacrifice bunt. Farnum scored on Kayla Merrill’s ground out and her younger sister raced home on a passed ball.

“Those early runs put the pressure on them,” Telstar coach Jim Lunney said. “It allowed Kayla to just reach back and throw strikes. Our defense came through by making the plays, again.”