Table-setters Liz Danik, Lindsey Wise lead Knoch softball to fourth straight win over Karns City

April 15, 2026 Last Updated: April 15, 2026 10:01 PM Sports

Knoch’s Liz Danik (2) slides into third base in a softball game against Karns City Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

KARNS CITY — No one can eat unless someone sets the table.

Seniors Liz Danik and Lindsey Wise set the table at the top of Knoch softball’s batting order. When they do, the Knights do more than eat.

They feast.

Danik and Wise combined to reach base eight times Wednesday night at Karns City, scoring three times each in the Knights’ 10-3 victory at Diehl Stadium. Knoch (7-2) has won four straight games, and the Knights have scored 33 total runs in their last three contests.

“Liz and Lindsey are a big part of that,” Knoch coach Chris Gardner said. “They thrive at setting the table. They know that’s their role. Hit, bunt, walk ... whatever it takes to get on base, they do it.”

Danik is the Knights’ leadoff hitter and took a .417 batting average into Wednesday’s game. She had a triple, two singles and a walk in five plate appearances.

Wise is the No. 2 hitter and carried a .444 average into the contest. She had three singles and a walk, tacking on a pair of RBIs in her five trips to the plate.

While Danik has hit anywhere from one through five in the lineup during her varsity softball career, she believes she’s found a home in the leadoff spot.

“I love it,” she said. “It’s fun setting the tone. We get on base and everyone else follows. Hitting is contagious, and it’s up to us to get that started.”

Wise began this season hitting in the lower part of the order before settling into the No. 2 spot.

“We know we have the heavy hitters behind us who are going to knock us in,” Wise said. “The mood of the whole game changes when we get on base right away.”

Knoch’s McKenna Jones (10) catches a putout to first base against Karns City Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Knoch entered Wednesday’s game with a .380 team batting average. Six Knights in the starting lineup are hitting .320 or higher.

For the Knights, practice makes perfect.

“We have a pitching machine, and it feels like we swing at a million pitches in practice,” Wise said. “There’s a building in Saxonburg where we hit all through the winter. We get to the gym and hit the weights, too.”

Knoch banged out 14 hits in six innings against the Gremlins. The game was called in the top of the seventh when lightning was spotted.

Emersyn Jones, Alena Tekely and Kaila Purcell collected RBIs in a three-run first inning. Danik tripled and scored in the second. Jones’ RBI single and Purcell’s sacrifice fly highlighted a three-run fourth that gave the visitors a 7-0 lead.

“That team can really hit the ball,” Karns City coach Mike Grazioli said. “We fell behind by a bunch early. We just played a game (Tuesday) and lost one of our best hitters (Aubrey Taylor) for the bulk of the season to injury.

“That bothered our girls. We didn’t seem totally focused at the start of this game.”

The Gremlins (8-2) had a seven-game winning streak snapped.

“We want to play non-league games against high-level opponents like this,” Grazioli said. “We ask our athletic director to schedule games like these every year. They make us better.”

Jones had four singles in as many at-bats Wednesday, driving in three runs. The Knoch sophomore has 18 hits in 28 at-bats this season.

Nicole Huff is hitting .500 for Karns City (15-for-30), delivering a two-run single in the fifth inning.

Knoch 310 330 — 10 14 1

Karns City 000 120 — 3 5 2

WP: Marlee Fraser 3IP (3so,0bb). LP: Addison Burrows 5IP (0so,2bb).

Knoch (7-2): Liz Danik 3B 2-1B 3-R, Lindsey Wise 3-1B 2-RBIs 3-R, Emersyn Jones 4-1B 3-RBI, Alena Tekely 1B 2-RBIs, Marlee Fraser 1B, Mckenna Brailey 1B, Kaila Purcell 1B 2-RBIs, McKenna Jones 1B

Karns City (8-2): Addison Burrows 1B, Nicole Huff 1B 2-RBIs, Abigail Dunlap 1B RBI, Aubrey Heginbotham 1B, Carley Conto 1B

Friday: Knoch at Indiana, Karns City vs. Cranberry in KSAC Showcase at DuBois

Karns City’s Ronni Radaker (18) runs to home plate to score a run in a softball game against Knoch Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Knoch’s McKenna Jones (10) catches a putout to first base against Karns City Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Knoch’s Liz Danik (2) slides into third base in a softball game against Karns City Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw