KARNS CITY — For Karns City softball, there’s no place like home.

Actually, the Gremlins haven’t been anyplace else.

Jessica Dunn’s walk-off single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning handed Karns City (6-1) a 6-5 victory over Knoch Friday night at Diehl Stadium. All seven of the Gremlins’ games have been at their stadium. They’ve now won six in a row there.

“We have a road game coming up next week,” Karns City coach Mike Stitt said. “We need to get these girls out of here for a change.”

Winning pitcher Marra Patton wouldn’t mind playing in a game elsewhere.

“I love this place, obviously, but I miss the dirt,” Patton said. “I like playing ball on dirt ... There’s nothing like getting dirty.”

Friday’s game wasn’t exactly clean — the teams combining for seven errors — but Karns City will take it.

The Gremlins seemingly had the contest well in hand in the seventh.

Patton retired the first two batters and had two strikes on Brynne Smith with Karns City holding a 5-3 lead. But Smith doubled over the right fielder’s head . Lindsey Edwards followed with a sinking liner to left that rolled to the fence. Smith scored and Edwards tried for a triple.

The throw to third got away and Edwards trotted home with the tying run. Carissa Tekely and Sophe Brandon followed with singles, but Patton struck out Sam Robb to escape further damage.

“It was nice putting a rally together like that,” Knoch coach Gary Coe said. “We haven’t been getting enough timely hitting to win games and our defense has let us down at times.”

The Knights (2-6) stranded 10 runners Friday, failing to score after loading the bases in the sixth and putting runners at second and third with one out in the fourth.

Two Knoch errors gave Karns City a pair of runs in the first inning without the benefit of a hit.

“We’ve been giving up unearned runs,” Coe said. “We lost 3-2 to Freeport on unearned runs, 1-0 to Burrell on an unearned run ... I won’t say it’s been frustrating, but it’s challenging.

“We have a young team. We’ll come around.”

Karns City has a veteran lineup that took care of business in the bottom of the seventh.

“These girls know what to do,” Stitt said. “I didn’t say a word to them before that bottom of the seventh. There was no need to.”

No. 9 hitter Jayda Polczynski started the frame with a line singe to center. Ashley Fox and Zoe King worked walks to load the bases. Dunn then singled to left to end the game.

Patton struck out six and allowed only one walk in a route-going effort on the mound, though she gave up 11hits.

“Marra has been stepping up as a pitcher for us,” Stitt said. “She’s doing exactly what we want her to do.”

Patton hit a solo homer down the left field line in the fourth inning. She also took a line drive off the knee to begin the sixth.

“That’s the second time I’ve been hit in the knee this year,” Patton said, her knee wrapped in ice after the game. “I guess my knee’s been a pretty good target.

“We really wanted this win. A lot of us play rec ball against Saxonburg and they beat us pretty good. They’re a really good team.”

Patton had two hits and scored two runs for the Gremlins. Rossi McMillen doubled, singled and had an RBI.

Edwards and Tekely both had a double and two singles to lead Knoch’s attack. Brynnae Coe pitched the first four innings, allowing only two hits for the Knights.

Knoch1001102 — 5113

Karns City 2101011 — 674

None out when winning run scored

W: Marra Patton 7IP (6K, 1BB). L: Sylvia Luffy 2IP (1K, 2BB)

Knoch (2-6): Madi Gardner 2B, Brynnae Coe 2B 1B RBI, Brynne Smith 2B, Lindsey Edwards 3B 2-1B 2-R, Carissa Tekely 2B 2-1B, Sophie Brandon 1B RBI

Karns City (6-1): Ashley Fox 1B, Jessica Dunn 1B 2-RBI, Marra Patton HR 1B RBI, Rossi McMillen 2B 1B RBI, Jayda Polczynski 1B

Saturday: McKeesport at Knoch

Monday: Forest at Karns City