AUBURN – When Erica Dorso reached second base Saturday, she and St. Dom’s softball coach Dan Samson likely thought the same thing: “Now what are we going to do?”

Dorso had just produced the Saints’ first hit of the game and was halfway to scoring the game’s first run. With a pitcher’s duel in progress and two outs, the Saints needed something to happen.

“It was nerve-racking,” said Dorso. “I knew we needed a run to be ahead. I was hoping there would be a passed ball. I was hoping I could get around the bases somehow.”

The Saints (14-3) couldn’t have plotted out the means of Saturday’s game-winning run but welcomed the unconventional circumstances in a 1-0 Western Maine Class C semifinal win over Monmouth. Dorso moved to third on a passed ball and then scooted home when an errant return throw from the catcher to the pitcher sailed into the outfield.

“It was just that one situation where someone took their eye off the ball,” said Monmouth coach Rachel Bernier. “I think she was hurrying to get it back to the pitcher, and Emily (Gauthier) wasn’t looking. That’s just nerves. You hate to see it happen. It was a great game for both teams. Both teams made some great defensive plays. In a tight game like this it comes down to miscues.”

The defending Western C champs advance to Wednesday’s regional final, the fourth in a row for the Saints.

The Saints’ Audrey Pleau and Monmouth’s Gauthier each hurled one-hitters. It was Dorso’s hit in the fifth that had the biggest impact. With two outs, she drilled a shot to left. Amy Parsons did a nice job chasing it down to limit Dorso to a double.

“It felt really good,” said Dorso. “She had pitched inside the first two times I was up. I stepped back a couple steps and saw an inside pitch.”

Parsons had been moved to outfield when Alex Gauthier came in to catch in the fifth. Gauthier is a regular defensive replacement, often brought in for her ability to block low pitches. With Laura Robitzek at the plate, one of the next offerings from her sister crossed the catcher up and got by her, allowing Dorso to take third. With Dorso a threat to race home on a passed ball or squeeze attempt, Alex caught the next pitch and fired it right back to the pitcher. Emily was watching Dorso. The ball sailed toward the outfield and Dorso scampered home.

“Everyone was yelling: ‘Any pass ball, you’re going, keep running,'” said Dorso. “When the catcher caught the ball, I had taken a lead and I turned around to go back to the base. I was on my way back and saw the throw. When she overthrew, I ran home. I was gone. I knew we had to get that run, whatever it takes.”

That would be all it took. Pleau put down the next six Mustangs to secure the win. After allowing two hits Friday, the senior pitcher gave up just a Chantel Saucier hit in the third.

“Audrey was on, and if Audrey is on, Audrey’s going to be tough,” said Samson.

The Saints had a strong defensive game. St. Dom’s had just one error and had some nice plays from Robitzek, Sarah Caron, Emily Goss and Julia Harper in the field.

“Julia Harper probably had her best game in her four years at St. Dom’s, ” said Samson of his second baseman.

The Saints lone error led to Monmouth’s only real scoring threat. In the third with one out, Saucier produced a bloop single. After a fly out, Katie Stinson reached on an error. Nothing materialized for Monmouth (11-8) as Parsons flied out to Goss in right.

“We knew it was going to be tough for both teams,” said Bernier. “We knew he was going to do the short game and move runners around and mental toughness was going to play a part in it.”