CHICORA — Karns City was getting its opportunities, but was starting to fall short on innings.

In Wednesday's District 9 Class AA semifinal against Kane, the Gremlins had stranded six runners on base over the first five innings, including five in scoring position.

They also found themselves on the short end of a 4-3 game heading to the bottom of the sixth.

From there, however, the Gremlins assumed control.

Breezzie Rich's RBI triple sparked a six-run frame as Karns City went on to post an 9-4 softball victory over the Lady Wolves.

"With our lineup, we were going to knock in some runs sooner or later and it looked like it was later," said Gremlins coach Mike Simpson. "It seemed like some of our players never saw a change-up ... but I don't care. They battled back."

The Gremlins (9-3) fell behind 4-3 when Kane rallied for two runs in the top of the sixth inning to retake the lead.

After Gremlins pitcher Brandi Dunkle had walked Natalie Kossack and Blayke Burdick around a single by Kalie Walter and a strikeout by Brittany Peterson, Anna Wismar lined a two-run single to give Kane the one-run advantage.

Dunkle fanned pinch-hitter Sam Ferranto and Amanda Swanson to end the threat.

Unbowed, the Gremlins answered with their six-spot to pull away.

With one out and Sarah Young at first, Rich's hard liner skipped past Wolves center fielder Swanson for an RBI triple. Lauren Downs and Ceanca Everetts followed with run-scoring singles for a 6-4 lead.

Samantha Bly followed with a single, but an error allowed the ball to roll to the fence and allowed Bly to come all the way around to score.

Dunkle then tripled and scored on a fielder's choice groundout by Lisa Kaylor to close out the scoring.

"(Karns City) caught up to it and tagged the ball," said Kane coach Judy Kessler. "(Kane pitcher Kossack) was not getting the low strike ... and to get strikes, you do what you can.

"Coming in here at 9-9 and to play as well as we did, we were not disappointed in how we played ... We started to fall apart in the beginning (of the inning)," Kessler added.

Kane had taken a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning when a run scored on a fielder's choice and Wismar added a two-out RBI single.

The Gremlins answered with three runs in their half of the inning. Kaylor had an RBI single and Rich added a key two-out, two-run triple for the 3-2 lead.

Karns City had a golden opportunity to add to its lead in the fifth inning when Everetts and Bly opened with singles and advanced on a fielder's choice. Kossack, however, got Kaylor to hit a bunt pop-out and Brooke Hiles to fly out.

"We bunted about four times in the game and all could have led to runs," said Simpson. "That will give us something to work on."

Still, Dunkle came up big when she had to, scattering seven hits, striking out 10 Kane batters and walking just two.

The Gremlins will advance to the D-9 championship game Wednesday, when they will face Moniteau at a site and time to be determined.

Kane 000 202 0 — 4 7 2Karns City 000 306 x — 9 12 1W: Brandi Dunkle (7 IP) 10 K, 2 BB.

L: Natalie Kossack (6 IP) 2 K, 2 BB.

Kane (9-10): Natalie Kossack 2-1B; Kalie Walter 2-1B; Anna Wismar 2-1B, 3 RBI; Amanda Swanson 2B

Karns City (9-3): Lauren Downs 2-1B, RBI; Ceanca Everetts 2-1B, RBI; Samantha Bly 1B; Brandi Dunkle 2B, 3B; Lisa Kaylor 1B, 2 RBI; Brooke Hiles 1B; Breezzie Rich 1B, 2-3B, 3 RBI

Wednesday: District 9 Class AA Championship Game-Karns City vs. Moniteau, time and site to be determined