BROCKWAY — Karns City experienced both the good and the bad that can come with a big inning.

The Gremlins used a 6-run third frame to move in front of Deer Lakes in Tuesday's PIAA Class AAA softball first-round playoff.

Two innings later, with the score knotted at 6-6, it was the Lancers who erupted for eight runs to take the lead for good in a 16-6 decision at Brockway High School's field.

Karns City tallied at least one hit in every inning, but could not keep up with the Lancers on the scoreboard.

“I don't have an answer for why we couldn't score other than the big inning we had,” said Gremlin coach Mike Stitt. “We felt like we could stand toe-to-toe with them and everybody was putting the bat on the ball for us. They (Lancers) were just the better team.”

Deer Lakes managed to get its first five batters on base in the top of the fifth — including a two-run triple from Kristin Rudy — which chased KC reliever Mackenzie Shay. She had entered the game with one out in the top of the fourth. Starter Logan Byers re-entered the game trailing 9-6 and was unable to stop the bleeding.

Becca Hoffman scored on a wild pitch and Kaylee Scuibba came home on an error, one of four KC errors in the frame.

Rudy added another RBI with a single and Brittany Dengler doubled home two more. When the dust settled, a tie game had turned into a commanding 14-6 lead for Deer Lakes (16-2).

“Wherever we pitched it, they were hitting it,” said Stitt. “We heard about their hitting coming in, but we needed to clean up the errors, too.”

Rudy, Deer Lakes' starting pitcher, took advantage of her second chance in the circle. She had been lifted in favor of Hoffman during KC's outburst in the third, but returned in the bottom of the fourth. She allowed a hit in each of the final four innings, but allowed no more runs. She ended the game with four strikeouts and one walk.

“We told her how proud we were of her, coming back and finishing the way she did,” said Lancer coach Craig Taliani.

The Gremlins found themselves in a 4-0 hole when they picked up their bats in the third inning, but back-to-back singles from Emily Wolfe and Alyssa Stitt began the inning and the rally.

With one out, Mackenzie Dunn singled home Stitt. Two batters later, Sami Grazioli doubled in two runs.

Hoffman relieved Rudy, but the Gremlins' onslaught continued. Kate Allen scored on a wild pitch. Chandley Stuchell and Stitt followed with run-scoring singles. Finally, Katelynn Blair was brought in to pitch and she recorded the final out, leaving the bases loaded in the process.

The Lancers tied the game in the top of the fourth, scoring a run on a wild pitch and another on an error.

Deer Lakes was coming off a 10-0 loss to Ellwood City in last Wednesday's WPIAL title game.

“It was a tough loss and there was a bit of a hangover effect from that,” admitted Taliani. “We got our confidence back today.”

Dunn and Stuchell both had three hits for the Gremlins, who were able to play just 15 games this season due to poor weather.

“The rain and inconsistency (of not playing) didn't help,” said Mike Stitt. “You don't get into a flow that way, but I'm proud of the girls.”

Deer Lakes 103 280 2 — 16 18 1

Karns City 006 000 0 — 6 13 6

W: Kristin Rudy 6.1 IP (4K, 1BB). L: Mackenzie Shay 1 IP (1K, 1BB).

Deer Lakes (16-2): Shae Robson 1B 4R, Kristin Rudy 2-1B 3B 5RBI, Katelynn Blair 2-1B 2B 4R RBI, Danielle Huffman 1B R, Brittany Dengler 2-1B 2B R 3RBI, Makayla Blair 2-1B R RBI, Becca Hoffman 2-1B R RBI, Maria Cerra 2B R, Kaylee Scuibba 2-1B 2R, Cassidy Chmura R

Karns City (10-5): Emily Wolfe 1B, Alyssa Stitt 2-1B R RBI, Emma Clark R, Mackenzie Dunn 2-1B 2B R RBI, Kate Allen 1B R, Sami Grazioli 1B 2B R 2RBI, Katie Neff 2B, Chandley Stuchell 3-1B R RBI