Knoch senior Erin Luffy (11), sophomore Olivia Vissari (3) and senior Monica Gourley (15) try to hold back tears after the Knights fell to Grove City, 4-0, in the first round of the PIAA Class 4A playoffs at Slippery Rock University Monday.

It's called a perfect game for a reason.

Grove City softball pitcher Lizzie Malczak learned that the hard way as she retired the first 20 batters she saw, only to have her perfect game snapped with two outs in the top of the seventh during the first round of the PIAA Class 4A softball playoffs Monday afternoon against Knoch.

“I expect her to do this every time she comes out and she has,” Grove City coach David Gatewood said on his pitcher's performance. “We've played teams that were undefeated and were champions in their divisions and our schedule was made for us to get here.”

The Eagles ultimately defeated Knoch, 4-0, at the Slippery Rock University softball complex. The win sets up a date with Elizabeth Forward (18-4) on Thursday.

“(Malczak) had some movement I guess we hadn't seen yet,” Knoch coach Gary Coe said. “She threw well, hats off to them. It's not too often our sticks get quieted. Good for them though.”

Malczak racked up 11 strikeouts with no walks through seven innings. Knoch third baseman Bailey Rickenbrode got the Knights' lone hit in the top of the seventh to break up the perfect game bid.

The Eagles first got on the board in the bottom of the third off a three-run blast from Morgan Shingledecker. Grove City then added one more run to its lead in the fourth to take a 4-0 advantage.

Knights' pitcher Amanda Fischer went six innings with three strikeouts and no walks, while surrendering just two earned runs.

“Four runs total, it's not a bad outing for (Fischer) as well,” Coe said. “The one inning they scored some runs, but you're going to have that in games. She was doing everything right, they were just putting bats on the ball. Like I said, hats off to them.”

Knoch graduates just two senior starters in Erin Luffy and Monica Gourley.

“We're missing our first baseman and shortstop, but everybody else will be back and we got some young ones coming up too as well,” Coe said.

Knoch 000 000 0 — 0 1 3

Grove City 003 100 0 — 4 5 0

W: Lizzie Malczak 7IP (11K, 0BB). L: Amanda Fischer 6IP (3K, 0BB).

Knoch (16-3): Bailey Rickenbrode 1B

Grove City (15-5): Morgan Shingledecker 1B HR, Camryn Billig 1B, Lizzie Malczak