The win improves Clarion to 9-1 in the conference and gives the Bobcats at least a share of the KSAC crown.

“You always dream,” said Clarion coach Dan Shofestall. “Coming into the season, (being at the top of the conference) was one of our goals.”

Tiffany Smathers hit a two-run triple in the bottom of the fifth and scored on an error on the same play that eclipsed a two-run deficit to give the Bobcats a 5-4 lead that held up the rest of the way.

“Tiffany has had a lot of big hits for us this year,” said Shofestall. “That is the reason we have her leading off, because she is a really good hitter and a good base runner.

“Actually she was supposed to take that pitch, but she missed the sign.”

The game began with Karns City plating three runs in the top of the first inning as the first two batters for the Gremlins, Allyson Kepple and Sarah Young, reached base on walks and Samantha Bly ripped a single that brought home Kepple. The next batter, Brandi Dunkle, hit a sacrifice bunt that brought home Young to give Karns City two runs. Ashton Paktuz followed with a sacrifice bunt to score Bly to make the score 3-0.

The Bobcats closed the gap to 3-1 in the bottom of the second when Kelsey Beichner reached first on an error and scored three batters later when Kelly Stroup lined out to the second baseman who tried to double-off Beichner at third base. However, the ball sailed over the third baseman’s head and Beichner raced home.

The Gremlins recaptured a three run advantage in the top of the third as Bly got to first on a fielder’s choice and scored on a single by Paktuz.

Bly was 1-for-3 in the game with an RBI and two runs scored.

Clarion pulled back to within two runs in the bottom half of the third as Karla Peterson looped a ball into right field, stole second, reached third on a wild pitch and eventually scored on another wild pitch.

Karla Peterson finished 1-for-1 with two runs scored.

After giving up four runs in the first three innings, the Bobcats’ defense stiffened as Walters allowed only four hitters to reach base the rest of the way.

Walters, a junior, captured the complete game win with 10 strikeouts and four walks.

“(Walters) wasn’t as sharp as she has been with her control,” said Shofestall. “But she hung tough and battled, that was a big thing. Getting down early and battling back was a real positive.”

On the other side, Karns City starter Dunkle went the distance and allowed only two earned runs, but picked up the loss. Dunkle cruised through the first four innings and in the fourth frame retired all three Clarion batters on four pitches.

  However, in the bottom of the fifth the Bobcat’s Abby Heller ripped a double to center field to lead off the inning. Karla Peterson came up next and walked. Smathers followed and hit a shot to right field. The ball took a bad hop and bounced to the fence allowing Heller and Peterson to score to tie the game. The Gremlins tried to nail Smathers at third base but the ball sailed over the third sacker’s head allowing Smathers to come home.

Smathers, a freshman, was 1-for-3 with a triple, two RBI and a run scored.

The three-run tally put Clarion in front 5-4.

Karns City attempted to rally in the top of the seventh when Young hit a one out single to right field. Bly came up next and flied out to center. The next batter, Dunkle, hit a grounder to third baseman Cierra Arnett but her throw to first sailed over first baseman Stroup’s head that put Dunkle on base. The error put the go ahead runner on second base, but that would be as close as the Gremlins would get as Walters struck out Paktuz to end the threat and the game.

“This was a really big win for the girls,” said Shofestall. “The way we battled back was important.”

Karns City entered the contest tied with Clarion atop the KSAC, but the loss moves the Gremlins into a tie for second.

“That was a hard loss to swallow,” said Karns City coach Mike Simpson. “Simply put, we made too many mistakes.

“We got Moniteau (tonight), and we just have to move on to the next game, that is all you can do. You lose, you lose.”