SANTA ROSA — The Kelseyville Knights stranded the potentially tying and go-ahead runs at second and third in the top of the seventh inning in a 5-4 non-league softball loss to Rincon Valley Christian on Thursday in Santa Rosa.
“It”s one of the better-played games we”ve played in this season and against a quality pitcher,” Kelseyville coach Greg Giusti said. “We just didn”t get the key hits when we needed them.”
Such as in the top of the seventh, when Allyson Brown, who had earlier singled, and Lauren Giusti, who was hit by a pitch, were standing at second and third with one out. Winning pitcher Amanda Wisdom retired the next two batters to work out of the jam. Only a sophomore, Wisdom scattered six hits, struck out seven and walked two.
“She throws hard, has good control and a good changeup,” Giusti said.
Losing pitcher Casey Bowlin also went the distance, allowing five hits, striking out six and walking five.
Rincon Valley scored three times in the bottom of the fourth inning to move ahead to stay at 5-3. Kelseyville closed to 5-4 in the sixth.
“We had our chances to win it,” Giusti said. “We left the bases loaded in the third and had those two runners on in the seventh.”
