DUBOIS — With two innings left to play, Karns City's softball team was within striking distance of defending state champion South Park, trailing the Eagles, 5-3.

Then the Gremlins hit the proverbial slippery slope.

South Park scored six runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to turn the game into a 17-3 rout at Heindl Memorial Field, ending the Gremlins' season.

“I think if a couple of calls go differently, we could have hung with them,” said KC coach Mike Stitt. “But once the bleeding starts, it's tough to stop.”

South Park's Jess Dean hit a solo home run to begin the sixth frame, one of eight extra-base hits on the day for the Eagles. Following a double from Kaitlyn Morrison, KC starting pitcher Logan Byers was relieved by Mackenzie Shay, but it did not matter to the Eagles.

Katlyn Pavlick laced an RBI-triple and she scored on an error, one of two KC miscues in the frame.

“We tried to throw some different arms out there, but South Park has some really good hitters and they hit the ball today,” Stitt said.

When the Gremlins finally got out of the inning, they were working against an 11-3 deficit.

KC's slim chances of a comeback became even more remote when South Park reliever Julie Shinavski left the bases loaded in the bottom of the inning.

The Eagles (17-2) then scored six more runs off Mackenzie Dunn and Byers, who returned to the circle.

KC faced a 3-0 deficit when an error and wild pitch allowed Emily Wolfe to score the Gremlins' first run in the bottom of the third inning. Byers followed with a single that scored Katie Neff and South Park's lead was trimmed to 3-2.

KC's final run came in the fifth. Dunn's double brought home Garrah Milochik. In all, South Park's pitchers stranded eight KC base runners, all coming in the final five innings.

“They did a good job of moving the ball in and out on our hitters,” said Stitt. “Credit to them.”

Despite the loss, Stitt was impressed with the effort this season.

“To go 16-3, that's no slouch,” said Stitt. “We were here for a reason. It was a great season.”

South Park 021 116 6 — 17 17 2

Karns City 002 010 0 — 3 6 3

W: Jess Dean 5.1IP (6K, 2BB). L: Logan Byers 6+IP (2K, 3BB).

South Park (17-2): Jess Dean 1B HR 2-R 2-RBI, Katlyn Pavlick 2B 2-3B 3-R 4-RBI, Charlyn Blackburn 1B 2-2B R RBI, Taylor Glowa 3-1B 2-RBI

Karns City (16-3): Logan Byers 1B RBI, Mackenzie Dunn 1B 2B RBI, Katie Neff 1B R