CHICORA — One big inning propelled the Karns City softball team to a big-time victory.

The Gremlins plated 10 runs in the bottom of the second to erase a 3-0 deficit and coasted to a 12-4 win over defending champion Cranberry on Tuesday in a District 9 Class AA quarterfinal at Chicora Elementary School.

Although the Berries (12-8) scored two in the first inning and added another in the second, there was no worry in the Karns City dugout.

“I think there was probably more panic in the coach,” said Karns City coach Buddy Gibson with a laugh.

“We were all right,” said freshman pitcher and leadoff hitter LeeAnn Gibson. “We knew we got to hit, too. There were six more innings left and we were ready to go.”

In the decisive second frame, 11 of the first 12 Karns City hitters reached base on eight hits, one walk, one hit by pitch and an error. Freshman left fielder Taylor Downs delivered the only extra-base knock with an RBI triple to right-center field.

Downs finished 3-for-4 with two RBI, two runs scored and was a home run shy of the cycle.

“We usually pick ourselves back up,” said Downs.

“One hit after another. That's what did it,” said LeeAnn Gibson. “We were excited.”

Morgan Deal sparked the rally and Clara Stoughton drove home three runs in the inning with a pair of singles and also stole a base.

Karns City (12-5) chased Cranberry starter Kayla Nelson after the 10th Gremlin scored on the Berries' only error of the game. Marissa Peterson relieved Nelson and held Karns City in check the rest of the way.

Peterson pitched 4 2-3 innings, gave up two earned runs on eight hits, struck out five and walked one.

“Just two different styles of pitching. One is throwing a lot of speed and one is throwing more movement,” said Cranberry coach Shawn Bean. “They planned well for the speed and we were able to slow them down a little bit with the change of the speed and the movement, but we couldn't get our bats to come alive.”

Gibson pitched all seven innings for the Gremlins, gave up four runs — three earned — struck out four and walked four. She also paced Karns City with four hits, including a triple.

“Our pitching was better,” said Buddy Gibson. “We didn't have too many walks and we played defense — that's a big part of it.”

Cranberry was led by Aneisa Felmlee, who ripped an RBI double in the first to score Brooke Lalley and later crossed the plate on a single from Brittani Burris. Peterson drew a leadoff walk in the second and scored on a single to right by Courtney Allen for a 3-0 advantage.

After the Gremlins pounded out 10 runs in the bottom of the second, Downs led off the fourth with a double and scored on a single from Jensen Bachman to make it 11-3.

The Berries got one back in the fifth as Alexi Felmlee scored after a bobble in the outfield on a Kendra Shreck single, but Karns City came right back in the bottom half when Deal scored on a Downs single to reestablish the eight-run cushion.

“Hats off to Karns City, they're a great hitting team and they earned their spot to move on,” said Bean. “I wish them the best of luck there.”

The fourth-seeded Gremlins will travel to No. 1 Redbank Valley on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. in the D-9 semifinals. The winner plays either No. 2 Moniteau or No. 3 Curwensville for the championship.

Karns City split two regular-season meetings with Redbank.

“It's a big game for us,” said Downs. “We're going to try our hardest.”

Cranberry 210 010 0 — 4 7 1

Karns City 0(10)0 110 x — 12 16 2

W: LeeAnn Gibson 7 IP (4K, 4BB). L: Kayla Nelson 2 1-3 IP (1K, 1BB).

Cranberry (12-8): Courtney Allen 1B, RBI; Brooke Lalley 1B, R; Aneisa Felmlee 2B, 1B, BB, R, RBI; Alexi Felmlee R; Kendra Shreck 1B; Julia Swartzfager BB; Brittani Burris 1B; Marissa Peterson BB, R; Kayla Nelson 1B, BB

Karns City (12-5): LeeAnn Gibson 3B, 3-1B, R, 2-RBI; Taylor Ritzert HBP, R; Ashley Coon 1B, R, 2-RBI; Morgan Deal 3-1B, 3-R, RBI; Clara Stoughton 2-1B, SB, 3-RBI; Taylor Downs 3B, 2B, 1B, 2-R, 2-RBI; Jordan Downs BB, R; Jensen Bachman 2-1B, R, RBI; Saydie Moore 1B

Thursday: Karns City at Redbank Valley, 4:30 p.m. in District 9 Class AA semifinal