Tunkhannock allowed just one run through three games at the Little League Softball World Series.

That run, however, cost the team its first loss of event in Portland, Ore.

Daniel Boone Little League, the Southeast Regional champion from Gray, Tenn., used a third-inning run to turn back Tunkhannock, 1-0, in a Pool A game Friday night.

With wins in the first two days and the results of other games, Tunkhannock had clinched a quarterfinal berth by the time it took the field Friday night. The last two pool play games were about landing the highest seed possible going into bracket play.

The Pennsylvania state and East Regional champions continued their strong pitching and defense, but the offense could not convert opportunities in Friday’s loss.

Through three games, pitcher Kaya Hannon had allowed just five hits. The defense had committed just one error.

A walk and a hit batter led to the game-winning single by Josie Jenkins with two out in the bottom of the third.

Kayleigh Musser struck out two in a three-hit shutout for Daniel Boone. She also gave up three walks and hit three batters.

Hannon threw a two-hitter with four strikeouts and just one walk.

Tunkhannock had a series of scoring opportunities but stranded seven base runners and lost the leadoff runner in the sixth inning when catcher Kyleigh Bacon scrambled to get to a fouled bunt pop-up on her knees, then threw to first for a double play. Tunkhannock also had two runners thrown out stealing.

Ella McNeff and Sydney Huff each had a hit and drew a walk for Tunkhannock. Hannon had the other hit.

McNeff and Huff combined to give Tunkhannock a lead-off base runner in five of six innings. Huff twice made it to third base.

Tunkhannock had two hits and a hit batter in the top of the first, but had a runner thrown out stealing and left two runners on base. After leaving the bases loaded in the second, Tunkhannock could not score with two runners in the fourth. It had two more runners on to start the fifth, but the threat again stalled at that point.

Kirkland, Wash. defeated Prague, Czech Republic, 15-0, in four innings in the other Pool A game Friday.

Prague had gone 3-3 at the 2017 World Series, but lost its first two in Mercy Rule games this season.

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Staff Reports