No. 4 Manteca carried a no-hit shutout into the fourth inning Friday when visiting fifth-seeded Dixon put up five runs highlighted by a Dakota Gaball three-run home run on the way to a 7-2 quarterfinal victory in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III softball playoffs.

The Buffaloes (17-9) got on the board in the first inning when Bella Cooper (2 for 4, run) hit her first of two doubles, was sacrificed to third by Lauren Moncada and came home on a sacrifice bunt by Na’ima Calderon. Ayva Wilkins scored in the sixth inning for Manteca on an error off the bat of Maleiah Garza.

Neriah Flores went 2 for 3 for the Buffaloes, who outhit the Rams (15-8) 8-7.

“We couldn’t string together the hits we needed,” Manteca coach Josh Farris said. “We just didn’t have any of those. That was kind of the difference, and we only struck out twice. They made the plays they needed to.

“We lost today the same way we have lost a lot of games. We had chances and did not come through. Not making excuses, but we have had some injuries and some setbacks, and I am proud of the way the girls fought. Division III is probably the toughest division in the playoffs, and we knew coming in it was going to be a difficult road. When you have Central Catholic and Oakdale in your league, you are always fighting. I enjoy being out there with these girls every day.”

Dixon now travels to Sacramento to face top-seeded and undefeated Destiny Christian Academy on Tuesday afternoon at 4.