Facing an undefeated Cranberry squad, the going didn't figure to be easy for Karns City's baseball team.

Dealt a dose of adversity, the Gremlins rose to the occasion.

KC managed all four of its runs in the bottom of the sixth, then relied on senior pitcher Derek Sadowski to diffuse a Cranberry rally in the seventh, holding on for a 4-3 win on a chilly Friday evening at Pullman Park.

“From the little bit that I had heard of Cranberry, they've played a lot of close games and they seem to find ways to win them,” said Karns City coach Randy Collins.

Sadowski held the Berries scoreless on three hits through the first six innings.

In the seventh, Cranberry (9-1) loaded the bases when, with one out, Kyle Hanna was hit by a pitch, Carter Hastings singled and Noah Hastings reached on a fielding error.

Bo Gormley followed with a two-run single and, with two outs, courtesy runner Seth Harry came home on a throwing error to make it 4-3.

With Gormley representing the tying run at second base, Sadowski struck out Ty Rex to end the game.

“I just had to stay calm and collected,” said Sadowski, who struck out 13 and walked one. “I try not to get antsy, that would just mess me up.”

“He kept us off-balance for much of the game,” Cranberry coach Patrick Irwin said of Sadowski. “I'm proud of our guys for making it a ballgame there in the seventh. We came up just a few bounces short.”

Collins is no stranger to Sadowski's ability, but the right-hander's latest effort still warranted praise.

“I told him he was the veteran of the team and that we expect greatness out of him,” Collins said. “I wish we could have scored a bit more for him. He had 13 strikeouts tonight, the most important one being that last one.”

Irwin had an ace of his own on the mound in freshman Dylan Cyphert, who did not allow a hit to the Gremlins until Tyler Kepple's single in the bottom of the sixth.

On the play, Nathan Weckerly, who had walked and stolen second to begin the inning, scored on a Cranberry fielding error for the game's first run.

Later in the inning, Scott Kiser laced a two-out base hit that plated Ethan Williams. Matt Yough made it 3-0 when the Berries again mishandled the ball in the outfield.

After that sequence, Cyphert was pulled in favor of Austyn Hanna.

Cyphert's outing included five strikeouts and four walks.

“Dylan threw about 70 pitches Tuesday (in a 6-5 win over Moniteau) and he was up to about 90 today,” said Irwin. “That's about his limit. He was cruising there for a while. There were two great pitchers out there today.”

Brandyn Bowser capped KC's scoring when his single off of Hanna brought in Kiser for a 4-0 lead.

“Up until the sixth inning, I think our guys were all trying to get the big hit,” said Collins. “Then we just focused on putting the ball in play.”

Cranberry 000 000 3 — 3 5 3Karns City 000 004 x — 4 4 2W: Derek Sadowski 7 IP (13K, 1BB).

L: Dylan Cyphert 5.2 IP (5K, 4BB).

Cranberry (9-1): Ty Rex 1B, Carter Hastings 2-1B, Noah Hastings 1B, Bo Gormley 1B 2RBI, Mike Drzewicki R, Jacob Creighton R, Seth Harry R

Karns City (7-1): Nathan Weckerly R SB, Tyler Kepple 1B, Ethan Williams R, Matt Yough 1B R, Scott Kiser 1B R RBI, Brandyn Bowser 1B RBI, Wyatt Everetts SB

Tuesday: Karns City at A-C Valley