CHICORA - Murderer's row has nothing on them.

Up and down the lineup, the Moniteau softball team has been butchering opponents with speed and plenty of thump.

The Warriors were at it again against Karns City Thursday afternoon, bludgeoning their way to a 15-9 win in a steady rain.

Water wasn't the only thing falling in abundance. Hits were falling in at a steady rate, too.

"I knew it was going to be a game like this," said Karns City coach Mike Simpson. "They have a nice team. They hit the ball extremely well and they field it well."

The Warriors' Laken Burk went 4-for-5 with a triple and four RBI, and Sara Vinca went 4-for-4 with four runs scored.

Moniteau (7-0 overall, 4-0 in the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference) banged out 17 hits in the contest against Karns City pitcher Shelby Waltman.

The Warriors also stole three bases and moved up a base on eight wild pitches and two passed balls.

But that's how Moniteau likes it: pressure. Pressure. Pressure.

"We definitely like to put heat on the catcher and pitcher," said Moniteau coach Danny Hindman.

That has helped the Warriors score at a prodigious rate this season as they have plated 80 runs in seven games.

But they also have given up 29 runs in those seven games, including six to Karns City in the late innings after taking a 12-3 lead into the fourth.

"We were talking about that the other night on the bus," Hindman said. "Of the 20 runs we gave up (before Thursday), 10 came on bases-loaded walks and one run on a hit batter. Four more came on errors. So, we have really only given up five runs that the other team earned."

That changed a bit against Karns City.

The Gremlins hit Moniteau pitchers Mel Foreman and Selina Edinger hard at times.

Karns City's Marissa Evankovich hit a two-run double that one-hopped the fence in left field and Waltman laced a two-run triple in the first inning.

"We had a few batters turn on the ball and crush it," Simpson said. "That was good to see."

What was also pleasant to Simpson's eyes was how his team battled back from a huge early deficit.

Karns City cut the lead to 12-9 in the fifth inning, but it ran out of steam.

Both coaches had a feeling the game would be a high scoring one.

Two weeks ago, the two teams played one inning in the rain before the game was suspended with Moniteau leading 6-5.

Both coaches said they also feel their pitching needs to come around.

But with hitting like Moniteau has, it might need just serviceable efforts from its pitchers.

"I'd say our hitting is definitely pleasing to me," Hindman said. "Every game it seems like it is someone different. It may be Jenna (Beatty), it may be Natalie (DeMatteis), it may be Melissa (Casper) - we believe anyone is capable of hitting."

Vinca is particularly torrid at the plate. She is 7-of-8 in the last two games.

"She's sparking us right now," Hindman said. "It's great having so many in this lineup we can count on."

Moniteau 435 000 3 -15 17 0

Karns City 300 312 0 - 9 9 7

WP:

Mel Foreman (4

IP) 3 strikeouts, 5 walks.

LP:

Shelby Waltman (7 IP) 2 strikeouts, 5 walks

Moniteau (7-0, 4-0):

Sara Vinca 4-1B, 4-R; Natalie DeMatteis 2-1B, RBI; Melissa Casper 1B, RBI; Laken Burk 3-1B, 3B, 4-RBI; Selena Edinger 3-1B, RBI; Kelly McMillen 1B; Brittney Beachem 2-1B, RBI

Karns City (2-6, 2-2):

Kristen McCurack 3-1B, RBI; Marissa Evankovich 1B, 2B, 2-RBI; Shannon Christie 1B, RBI; Haley Callihan 1B, RBI; Megan Simpson RBI, Waltman 3B, 1B, 2-RBI

Tuesday:

Keystone @ Moniteau; Karns City @ DuBois Central Catholic