STRATTANVILLE — Sara Hull and the Moniteau softball team experienced a radical swing of emotions Monday night.

Through three innings, the Warriors were in good position to challenge District 6 runner-up Philipsburg Osceola in the first round of the PIAA playoffs at Clarion-Limestone.

Then the Mounties' offense got going.

Philipsburg-Osceola scored 16 runs in the fourth to beat Moniteau 19-6 in five innings. The loss was the first for the Warriors, who finished with a school-best record of 20-1.

Hull, one of six freshmen who started for Moniteau, was thrilled with what the team accomplish.

“It was great, knowing what we were able to do,” Hull said. “ (Next year) we want to go farther into states, win KSAC and D-9.”

The Warriors are 0-4 all-time in the PIAA tournament.

Moniteau coach Dan Beebe said losing to the Mounties (20-5) should have a positive impact for the Warriors.

“It's a message for our girls to know. The future is bright, but they have to realize there are some other good teams out there,” Beebe said. “ I think they know that. ... Hopefully, we can get back here in the future and do it again.”

Hull laced a two-out double to left-center field, scoring Cortney Claypoole and Kennedy DeMatteis to put Moniteau ahead 5-3 in the third. Taylor Hasychak doubled in Hull to add another run.

“After that we thought we had it,” Hull said.

Philipsburg-Osceola responded by being patient. Megan Bainey and Annie Kost drew walks off DeMatteis to start the fourth inning.

One batter later, Abby Showers belted a three-run homer to left field to tie the game.

“We made her throw strikes. We saw she was a little wild early, high especially,” Mounties coach James Gonder said. “So we stayed off the high pitch and waited for her to throw the ball down in the strike zone.”

Philipsburg-Osceola drew eight walks off DeMatteis, including five in the fourth inning. DeMatteis pitched 4 2/3 innings and struck out three batters.

After Showers' home run, the next eight batters reached base.

“They came up and got some runners on,” Beebe said. “Once they got that home run, they got comfortable. Hitting's contagious.”

Chelsey Henry drove in a game-high six runs for Philipsburg-Osceola, including a bases-clearing double off Hasychak to stretch the lead to 18-6.

“After they got that many runs, we were just having fun, really,” Hull said.

The Mounties scored two runs in the first inning on a Moniteau error. The Warriors made seven errors.

Moniteau responded with three runs in the bottom of the first. Claypoole reached on an error by the shortstop. During the play, Kristina and Kennedy DeMatteis scored on throwing errors.

Claypoole scored when Hull reached on an error.

“We played poorly,” Gonder said. “I don't think they were nervous or anything else. I just think we didn't execute well.”

P-O 201 (16)0 — 19 9 4

Moniteau 303 00 — 6 4 7

W: Chelsey Henry 3IP (1K, 3BB). L: Kennedy DeMatteis 3 2/3IP (3K, 8BB).

Philipsburg-Osceola (20-5): McKenzie Burge 2B, Abby Showers HR, Haley Frank 1B 2B, Chelsey Henry 1B 2B, Tiffani Wagner 1B, Maggie Peck 1B, Megan Bainey 1B.

Moniteau (20-1): Kristina DeMatteis 1B, Kennedy DeMatteis 1B, Sara Hull 2B, Taylor Hasychak 2B