CHERRY TWP — It's never over until it's over.

It seems sports fans have been saying that forever.

But on Thursday afternoon, the Moniteau softball team discovered first hand how true that cliche can be.

The Warriors held a 4-2 lead and had Cranberry down to its last out with the bases empty.

Junior pitcher Martina Burk then issued three consecutive walks to Jessica Jack, Kasey Morrow and Megan Neidich to load the bases. Until that point, Burk hadn't allowed a free pass in the game.

Moniteau coach Danny Hindman elected to bring in senior left-hander Sara Vinca, who surrendered a two-run single to Melissa Kirwin, tying the game.

After a walk to Karissa Sterling, Vinca forced the Berries' Lacey Pritchard to ground back to the pitcher.

Vinca fielded the ball just outside the pitcher's circle and went to tag out the runner on her way to first base. But when Vinca's glove collided with Pritchard, the ball fell to the ground, allowing pinch-runner Nicole Hammers to score the go-ahead run.

Moniteau was unable to rally in the bottom of the inning and shouldered a 5-4 defeat.

"(Four) walks with two outs, you just can't give them bases like that," Hindman said. "That's just fundamentals. You allow free passes like that and they always seem to come around to score."

For Cranberry, it was its second come-from-behind win in as many days. On Wednesday, the Berries trailed 6-2 at Redbank Valley before rallying to a 7-6 victory.

"All three of our league wins have come by one run," said Cranberry coach Larry Sherman.

It was the Warriors who took control of the game early.

After Cranberry managed one run in the top of the first inning, Moniteau tallied four runs in the bottom of the second on just two hits.

Burk led off the inning with a single before Brandy Neff walked and Amber Neff was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Burk scored on Larissa Fowler's sacrifice fly before a throwing error allowed Brandy Neff to come home for a 2-1 edge.

Three batters later, Ashley Pisor doubled to left, scoring Amber Neff and Sarah Dittig.

Little did the Warriors know it, but the four runs would be all the offense they'd have by the end of the game.

"It seems like we have one big inning and then go flat the rest of the game," said Hindman. "That's been the case the last three or four games."

"I got a bit anxious out there when (Moniteau) went up 4-1," said Cranberry pitcher Rhea Miller. "But I just focused on doing my best and getting outs."

Following the second frame, getting outs proved easier for the junior hurler.

Over the last five innings, Miller shut out the Warriors on three hits.

She retired the final seven batters of the game in order, the first of which came when Amber Neff popped out to leave the bases loaded in the fifth inning.

Cranberry closed its deficit to 4-2 in the top of the fifth when Hammers came home on Neidich's ground out.

Cranberry 100 010 3—5 9 1Moniteau 040 000 0—4 6 2WP: Rhea Miller (7 IP) 5 strikeouts, 3 walks.

LP: Martina Burk (6 We IP) 1 strikeouts, 3 walks

Cranberry (4-2, 3-0): Rhea Miller 2-1B, Kasey Morrow 2B RBI R

Moniteau (4-4, 3-1): Ashley Pisor 2B 2 RBI, Sara Vinca 2-1B, Martina Burk 2-1B R, Brandy Neff 1B R, Amber Neff R, Larissa Fowler RBI, Sarah Dittig R

Tuesday: Moniteau at Venango Catholic