PEMBROKE — Even though rain and lightning delayed the conclusion of the 4A state playoff game between Purnell Swett and Fuquay-Varina, the outcome had all but been decided.

The Bengals rolled to a 10-0 victory over Purnell Swett Saturday afternoon to advance to their second-straight semifinal appearance. Fuquay-Varina led 7-0 with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the second inning before the game was postponed Friday.

Fuquay-Varina coach Deb Clarke told her team before the game to act like the contest was tied.

“I told them to act like the game was 0-0,” Clarke said. “I wanted them to focus on winning each inning. When we started playing again, we wanted to try to get some more runs across.”

Fuquay-Varina’s Paige Canfield, the first batter after the restart, sent a groundball up the middle, which deflected off Purnell Swett starting pitcher Josey Oxendine’s glove for a single to score Natalie Budde. Lindsay Barrett was hit by Oxendine’s next delivery, allowing Heather Ratcliffe to score and push the Bengals’ advantage to 9-0. The Rams were able to avoid further damage when Oxendine coaxed the next two batters to hit into fielder’s choices to end the threat.

Fuquay-Varina (17-11) sent 15 batters to the plate in the second inning and took advantage of three Purnell Swett errors, three hit batters and three walks.

“We dug ourselves a hole that we couldn’t dig out of,” Purnell Swett James Graves said. “We gave up seven runs in the second last night and two more today. We can’t walk a bunch of hitters, hit some, commit errors and expect to have success.”

Fuquay-Varina starting pitcher Alissa Dean limited the Rams (19-9) to just one hit and two walks in five innings. Purnell Swett’s lone hit came when Moira Dial singled to center with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

“We needed to come out and score a few early to get back in the game,” Graves said. “We didn’t start hitting until it was too late.”

The Bengals tacked on the final run of the game in the third inning, aided by a Purnell Swett error.

Despite the sting of being ousted from the playoffs, Graves is excited about building a winning tradition with the Rams. In his first season, Graves guided Purnell Swett to its first postseason victory.

“I’m not sure some of the kids early on believed in themselves as much as I did,” Graves said. “I think we have some really good athletes here. I hate the season ended like it did, but the last few weeks have been exciting for the kids, the school and the community.

“I’m excited about next year. We’ve going to miss the seniors, but we have a good group coming back.”