CHICORA — It wasn't your typical no-hitter, but coach Mike Simpson and the Karns City softball team definitely will take it.

The win, that is.

Making her second start after missing a month due to illness, Gremlins pitcher Brandi Dunkle cooled the Redbank Valley bats during Wednesday's District 9 Class AA semifinal game en route to a 9-4 victory over the Bulldogs.

The Gremlins (13-4) will play Moniteau, a 5-2 winner in eight innings over Kane Wednesday, in the championship final at 4:30 p.m. next Wednesday at a site to be determined.

Dunkle struck out eight batters and walked four, but six Karns City errors made the game more tenuous than it appeared.

"That was our first playoff win since I've been coaching here," said Simpson, now in his fifth season. "I brought this team up all the way through. We've had our share of people sick and hurt, but everyone has stepped in and done the job."

"We've been playing good ball since the Rocky Grove Tournament," said Redbank coach John Sayers. "We just picked a bad day to have a bad game."

Karns City enjoyed leads of 4-0 and 7-2 before the Bulldogs mounted a serious threat to take control of the game in the top of the sixth inning.

Ashley Steppula walked and Keri Bowser was hit by a pitch to open the inning before a delayed steal by Steppula put runners on the corners.

Bowser then tried a delayed steal and Gremlins catcher Samantha Pyle's throw was short to second, allowing Steppula to break for home. A throw back to home allowed Bowser to slip to third base. Courtney Bullers grounded into a fielder's choice to make it 7-4.

Dunkle walked the next two batters, then struck out Haley Wanninger. A wild pitch allowed both runners to advance, but Dunkle fanned Emily Smith to end the inning.

After the Gremlins used an RBI triple from Lisa Kaylor and an RBI single by Erica Fallecker for a pair of insurance runs, Redbank Valley was retired in order in the seventh inning to end the game.

Karns City broke through in the third inning, plating four runs against Bulldogs senior Courtney Bullers.

A one-out triple by Fallecker was followed by an run-scoring single by Allyson Kepple. Pyle walked, but a fielder's choice at third base off the bat of Samantha Bly put runners at first and second with two outs.

Dunkle then hit a grounder to shortstop Tessa Magagnotti, who couldn't field the ball cleanly, which allowed Pyle to score. When the ball was thrown back to the pitcher, Bly ran to third.

While trying to touch the bag, Bly fell and the throw went down the left-field line.

Bly, who had injured her ankle while trying to avoid third baseman Wanninger, crawled back to the base. When the umpires decided to award Bly the next base, pinch-runner Samantha Ryan scored and Dunkle was awarded third base.

"I thought that was a terrible call," said Sayers. "My third baseman was making the play. ... There was no interference."

Jessica Spafford followed with an RBI single for a 4-0 Gremlins advantage.

A three-error fourth inning helped Redbank Valley score two runs, including an RBI groundout by Bullers, to cut the deficit in half, but Karns City got three more runs in the fifth inning, thanks to RBI by Dunkle and Spafford, for a 7-2 lead.

Notes: First baseman Haley Callihan missed the game due to strep throat and an eye infection and Bly missed the rest of the game, but the injury was not believed to be serious. ... Bullers finished the season with 128 strikeouts, a new Redbank Valley record.

Redbank Valley 000 202 0—4 0 4Karns City 004 032 x—9 7 6Courtney Bullers and Brittany Hildebrand; Brandi Dunkle and Samantha Pyle.

W: Dunkle (8 K, 4 BB).

L: Bullers (5 K, 6 BB).

Redbank Valley (13-5): Courtney Bullers 2 RBI

Karns City (13-4): Allyson Kepple 2-1B, RBI; Brandi Dunkle 1B, RBI; Jessica Spafford 1B, 2 RBI; Lisa Kaylor 3B, RBI; Erica Fallecker 1B, 3B, RBI

Wednesday: District 9 Class AA Championship game-Karns City vs. Moniteau, 4:30 p.m. at site to be determined