SALISBURY, Md. -- The Berkshire Force 16-and-under travel softball team got the tying run to the plate in the top of the fourth, but its rally fell short in a 6-4 decision on Tuesday at the United States Specialty Sports Association's Eastern National Championship.

 

Berkshire's second game of the day went down to the wire with Maryland's Brunswick Steam ahead, 6-1, after three innings.

 

With the tournament's time constraing making the fourth inning the Force's last chance, it got a one-out single from Julia McComish to start a three-run rally.

 

Ava McMahon singled to put two runners on, and with two out, Lexi Spratling singled to left to make it 6-2.

 

Amelia Polidoro worked a walk to load the bases, and Madilyn Demary earned a seven-pitch walk to bring in a run, making it 6-3. Spratling scored on a wild pitch, but Brunswick's pitcher got a groundball out to end the rally.

 

McMahon went three innings in the circle, allowing three earned runs in the loss.

 

The Force started its Tuesday against the Beacon Extreme of New York, which earned a 5-1 win after scoring five in the top of the second.