WEXFORD — A bloop and a blip.

That — and the clutch play of three South Fayette freshmen — ultimately led to Knoch's 6-4 loss in the first round of the WPIAL Class 4A softball playoffs Monday at North Allegheny.

The Knights (16-3) entered the game having won four in a row and nine of their last 10. But Knoch found itself locked in a 4-4 tie entering the ninth inning.

Celia Knappenberger — who went the distance on the mound — retired the first two South Fayette hitters before Sara Jubas hit a short pop-up between the mound and second base. The ball had a lot of spin on it and knuckled away from the outstretched glove of second baseman Sydney Natili.

As four Knoch fielders converged on the ball, Jubas alertly ran to an uncovered second base. She scored on a single to right by freshman Ashley Micholas, who took second on the throw to the plate. Lexi Yates then singled home Micholas.

“That ball in the ninth inning ... just one of those things,” Knoch coach Tim Knappenberger said. “I don't know what happened that no one was on second base. Just a lapse there.”

Jubas, South Fayette's leadoff hitter and shortstop, is headed to James Madison University.

“She's a heady player,” Lions coach Olivia Grenter said. “She always know where the ball is and she's an excellent baserunner. That was a huge base to take, for sure.”

The play added to a day of frustration for Knoch.

Amanda Fischer doubled to right with two outs in the Knights' ninth and Natalie Brown drew a walk. Chalee Durand grounded out to third to end the game.

Knoch stranded 14 runners on the day, at least one in every inning.

“We've been getting clutch hits with runners on base all year,” Coach Knappenberger said. “We didn't get them today.

“That's sports. This is the second season. We didn't execute enough to win today.”

Freshman Madison Piotteiger pitched four scoreless innings in relief for South Fayette (12-7) to get the win. She stranded seven runners while doing so.

Another freshman, catcher Lauren Bernett, delivered a two-run triple to right in the sixth inning to pull the Lions into a 4-4 tie.

“The moment's not too big for those freshmen,” Grenter said of Micholas, Potteiger and Bernett. “They've been keys for us all season.

“We put Maddie on the mound in the sixth because I felt like they were timing up (starting pitcher Claire Previte) a little too much. I felt we needed a change in speed, something to throw them off.”

Celia Knappenberger struck out 10 and allowed just one walk in nine innings. Bernett's game-tying triple came with one out, but Knappenberger prevented the go-ahead run from scoring by inducing a soft liner to second and a comebacker to the mound.

“She threw a gutsy game. She happens to be my daughter, but this would be a tough one to take for any girl,” Knappenberger said.

Celia Knappenberger struck out seven in four scoreless innings to begin the game, allowing only one hit during that stretch.

“We had to make some adjustments on our swings and our position in the box,” Grenter said. “She's a good pitcher and she had us out of whack at the plate.”

Knoch had a pair of two-run leads in the game. Brown had a run-scoring singled and Abigail Black scored on a throwing error for a 2-0 edge in the fourth. RBI doubles by Avery Keller and Erin Luffy produced a 4-2 lead in the fifth.

Natili paced Knoch's offense with a double and two singles.

“We had a great season. I'm proud of all these girls,” Coach Knappenberger said. “We just didn't get it done today. Like I said, that's sports.”

South Fayette 000 022 002 — 6 11 2

Knoch 000 220 000 — 4 11 2

W: Madison Potteiger 4IP (0K, 2BB). L: Celia Knappenberger 9IP (10K, 1BB).

South Fayette (12-7): Sara Jubas 2-1B, Ashley Micholas 2-1B 2-R RBI, Lexi Yates 2-1B, Delaney Ging 1B RBI, Lauren Bernett 3B 2-RBI, Jenne Harasin 2B RBI, Mia Ely 1B RBI, Ava Massetti 2B

Knoch (16-3): Sydney Natili 2B 2-1B, Monica Gourley 2-1B, Avery Keller 2B RBI, Erin Luffy 2B RBI, Abigail Black 2-1B, Amanda Fischer 2B, Natalie Brown 1B RBI