LEWISTON – When Lewiston scored a run in the third inning, it may have only tied Friday’s SMAA softball game against previously unbeaten Noble, but the momentum clearly swung in the Blue Devils’ favor.

“We got all confident, and it really turned things around in the game,” said Lewiston pitcher Shannon Godin. “I think it really shook them up too.”

Lewiston added three more runs in the next inning and held the fort in a 5-1 win over the Knights, who were one of the preseason favorites in the conference.

“This is a very big win,” said Godin. “We just beat one of the best teams in the state. This gives us a lot of confidence. We know we can beat anybody we go up against now.”

Though Noble (3-1) took the early lead with an unearned run in the first, Lewiston got that back in the third.

Godin put down the next three batters in the top of the fourth, and the Blue Devils rallied for three runs in the bottom of the inning off a new pitcher. Noble coach Rick Melanson pulled starter Chelsea Kimball and replaced her with Brittany Tibbetts.

“She was mad at my left fielder for not catching (a Katie Morin double that tied the game),” said Melanson, who pulled Kimball last year in the second inning in a 5-4 win over Lewiston. “I told her it wasn’t an individual sport, it was a team sport.”

Noble never really regrouped, and Lewiston (3-1) seized the opportunity, taking a 4-1 lead in the fourth. Meagan Marcoux scored on an error on a Nicole Caron bunt. Caron scored on an Alie Morin single. Later, an Amanda Michaud hit back to Tibbetts scored Kim Bechard on the ensuing fielder’s choice.

“We ran the bases well and executed well,” said Lewiston coach Fred Royer. “We stranded a couple on second base early. We kept plugging away and finally had some good plays.”

Noble threatened in the top of the sixth, but Lewiston didn’t squander the lead as it did Wednesday against Portland. Lewiston went up by as many as six runs before losing a two-run edge in the seventh to the Bulldogs.

The Knights loaded the bases with one out, but Godin got a nice running catch in left from Caron. A foul pop to Bechard at third ended the threat. Noble stranded eight runners, including five in the first three innings.

“That was crucial,” said Melanson. “We had a couple of line drive fly balls that we weren’t tagging up on. Tomorrow at 9 a.m., we’ll be running the bases.”

Lewiston added another run in the sixth when Bechard reached on an error and scored on a Morin fielder’s choice.

“We knew we had to keep our heads up even when they got the bases loaded,” said Godin, who allowed just five hits. “We had to keep going at it.”

Noble took a 1-0 lead in the first when Shelli McCormish tried to steal third and scored when no one covered the base and the catcher’s throw went into left. The Knights had the chance to build on the lead but left two runners on in the next two innings. Godin battled back to get three straight outs after a leadoff double and a walk.

Lewiston tied it in the third when Michaud led off with a single. She scored on a Katie Morin double in which the outfielder initially came in to play the ball, only to have it go over her head.

“We played solid defense, and once again Shannon pitched a good game,” said Royer. “We’re trying to stress teamwork, and we’re pleased to get back on track.”

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