No 10-run rule this time.

Karns City had defeated Keystone in five innings when the teams met earlier this season, but the Gremlins found themselves trailing 6-2 through three innings Friday at Kelly Automotive Park.

“It was Senior Night, not a great weather day ... There was a different feel to this game,” said Karns City coach Randy Collins. “And they (Keystone) really hit the ball.”

The visiting Panthers (2-11) erupted for a season-high 13 hits, but the Gremlins put together back-to-back big innings in rallying for a 10-8 Keystone-Shortway Athletic Conference baseball victory.

“We got our regular lineup back out there and the hits seemed to start falling in for us,” Collins said.

Karns City started all six of its seniors — Evan Stitt, Jared Stewart, Seth Silverio, Hunter Schaffner, Holden Martin and Dom Callihan — all of whom were honored before the game.

Stewart started the game on the mound, but was chased during a six-run Keystone third inning. Jimmy Thompson worked four innings of relief for the win.

“You want to find a way to get all of your seniors in the starting lineup on this night,” Collins said. “We had to do things a little differently with some kids to do that.

“At the same time, it's a league game and we needed the win.”

The middle part of the Gremlins' lineup did the most damage. No. 4 hitter Cullen Williams doubled, singled and scored three runs while No. 5 hitter Marcus Lantz had a pair of singles and four RBI.

“That's what you want — the middle guys in the lineup knocking in the guys getting on base in front of them,” Collins said.

Lantz and Nolan Riley — the latter as a pinch-hitter — had run-scoring singles during a three-run fourth inning that pulled KC (10-4) within 6-5. Jace Ebbit led off the fifth with a triple to deep left, scoring the tying run on Holden Martin's single to left.

Lantz then came up with a two-run single to give the Gremlins the lead they never lost.

“That triple by Jace set up that inning. It was a big one for us because it got us even right away,” Collins said.

“This is the best we've hit the ball all season,” Keystone coach Stanley Reed said. “Our bats kept us in this game.

“Usually, we have one disastrous inning, where we give up six or seven runs and don't do anything right. That didn't happen tonight.”

The Panthers got to Thompson for a pair of runs in the sixth, cutting the deficit to 9-8. A two-out RBI double by Williams in the bottom of the inning extended the lead.

Tyler Yough came on to pitch the seventh and got the save. He allowed an infield single to open the frame before retiring the next three hitters.

“We had our chances tonight,” Reed said.

Brooks Lavan had a double, single and three RBI to lead Keystone's attack. Losing pitcher Alec Friedland — Keystone's ace — threw 113 pitches in six innings.

Keystone 006 002 0 — 8 13 2

Karns City 020 341 x — 10 8 1

W: Jimmy Thompson 4IP (2K, 0BB). L: Alec Friedlund 6IP (4K, 3BB).

Keystone (2-11): Corey Rapp 1B, Brooks Lavan 2B 1B 3-RBI, Sawyer Reed 2-1B RBI, Chad Rodgers 1B, Mattson Caun 1B, Nate Wingard 1B RBI, Hunter Sliker 2-1B RBI, Scott Reed 1B, Alec Friedlund 2-1B RBI

Karns City (10-4): Jace Ebbit 3B, Holden Martin 1B 2-R RBI, Evan Stitt 1B 2-R, Cullen Williams 2B 1B 3-R RBI, Marcus Lantz 2-1B 4-RBI, Nolan Riley 1B RBI

Tuesday: Karns City at Union