CHERRY TWP — Remember the old baseball adage where a walk is as good as a hit?

Don't believe it.

At least on Wednesday, that didn't come into play for the Moniteau softball team.

Cranberry pitcher Kayla Nelson issued 18 walks — including 14 in the first three innings — but the Warriors could only manage four singles along the way.

The Berries erased a 5-0 deficit with six runs in the third inning and finished with 16 hits in a 16-9 KSAC victory.

“We knew coming in they were a good-hitting team,” Moniteau coach Dan Beebe said. “They had a lot of returning starters. They have very good athletes. A lot of those girls were on the basketball team.”

Along with the walks, Nelson also fanned 10 batters.

“Those are stats I've never seen before in a game,” Beebe said. “I'll take a walk whenever I can. That's like 18 singles, but they hit the ball and didn't make many errors.”

“Kayla right now is just working her way into fast-pitch,” said Cranberry coach Shawn Bean. “She really persevered and did a nice job. She settled down and really came through. She did an awesome job.”

Cranberry recorded all of its 16 runs and 16 hits between the third and sixth innings off Holly Colosimo, but five errors in the field on a windy day did not make things any easier.

Moniteau used five walks in the first inning — including consecutive bases-loaded walks to Kayla Goyak, Kayla Campbell and Colosimo with two outs — for a 3-0 lead.

Nelson walked five of the first six batters in the second inning, which helped to plate two more runs for the five-run advantage.

Then, the Berries finally solved Colosimo.

With runners at first and second and one out, Courtney Allen had an RBI single, then Alexis Sheffer followed with a two-run single and Lauren Hogue a two-run homer to quickly tie the game.

Heather Orrvick lined a double and scored on an RBI triple by Sune Swart to give the Berries the lead.

Moniteau answered with a run in the bottom of the third inning to knot the game when Emily Hiwiller earned a bases-loaded walk with two outs.

Cranberry, however, took the lead for good when it scored runs on an error, an RBI single by Hogue and a fielder's choice for a 9-6 lead.

An RBI single by Kylie Mason in the fifth inning made it a four-run game.

Moniteau did get closer when Colosimo received another bases-loaded walk — the sixth in the game for Moniteau — but Nelson struck out Kelsey Anderson to end the threat.

In five innings, Moniteau stranded 14 baserunners.

Cranberry would pull away by scoring six more runs in the sixth inning — highlighted by a second two-run homer by Hogue and a two-run triple by Courtney Perry.

Next up, Moniteau will take part in a tournament in Myrtle Beach, beginning play this Sunday.

“We'll get some good competition there,” Beebe said. “Playing better teams will make us better.”

Notes: Moniteau tacked on a run in the sixth inning on an error and Campbell drove in a run in the seventh inning ... Colosimo finished the game with seven strikeouts and just one walk.

Cranberry 006 316 0 — 16 16 2Moniteau 321 011 1 — 9 4 5W: Kayla Nelson 7 IP (10K, 18BB).

L: Holly Colosimo 7IP (7K, 1BB).

Cranberry (1-0): Kylie Mason 3-1B, RBI; Courtney Allen 2-1B, 2B, RBI; Alexis Sheffer 1B, 2 RBI; Lauren Hogue 2-HR, 1B, 5 RBI; Heather Orrvick 2B, RBI; Sune Swart 2-B, 3B, RBI; Julia Swartzfager 1B; Courtney Perry 3B, 2 RBI

Moniteau (1-1): Sydney Boben 1B; Emily Hiwiller 1B, 2 RBI; Kayla Goyak 1B, RBI; Kayla Campbell 1B, 2 RBI; Holly Colosimo 2 RBI