Knoch's Abigail Black slides safely into second base as South Fayette shortstop Sara Jubas takes the throw during the Knights' 6-4 WPIAL Class 4A playoff loss Monday.

WEXFORD — A bloop and a blip.

That — and the clutch play of three South Fayette freshmen — ultimately led to Knoch's 6-4 loss in the first round of the WPIAL Class 4A softball playoffs Monday at North Allegheny.

The Knights (16-3) entered the game having won four in a row and nine of their last 10. But Knoch found itself locked in a 4-4 tie entering the ninth inning.

Celia Knappenberger — who went the distance on the mound — retired the first two South Fayette hitters before Sara Jubas hit a short pop-up between the mound and second base. The ball had a lot of spin on it and knuckled away from the outstretched glove of second baseman Sydney Natili.

As four Knoch fielders converged on the ball, Jubas alertly ran to an uncovered second base. She scored on a single to right by freshman Ashley Micholas, who took second on the throw to the plate. Lexi Yates then singled home Micholas.

“That ball in the ninth inning ... just one of those things,” Knoch coach Tim Knappenberger said. “I don't know what happened that no one was on second base. Just a lapse there.”

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