LEWISTON – There were a few anxious moments for the Lewiston softball team early Saturday morning.

As the Edward Little club loaded the bases in the first inning, the Blue Devils might have been squirming a bit, but when Lewiston escaped that jam, all was right with the world.

“If we hadn’t gotten out of that jam, that could have decided the game,” said Lewiston pitcher Amanda Michaud. “I was so glad to get out of that. We could have lost it right there.”

Though EL had two hits and three runners on, the Red Eddies failed to score in the opening inning. Instead, it was Lewiston that struck first with a run. That’s the way it went the rest of the game. The Blue Devils remained unbeaten with an 8-0 victory at Randall Road.

“We’re an average team and if we don’t take advantage of opportunities early, if we get behind, we’re going to struggle,” said EL coach Gene Keene. “That’s what happened today. They got some runners on early and put the ball in play and got the lead and were in a comfortable position.”

Though Michaud was off a little in the first inning, she settled down and allowed five hits total, none after the third inning.

“I was just nervous with it being EL and it’s a rivalry and on my shoulders,” she said. “After we started scoring runs, I was getting more into my groove.”

Lewiston’s bats also heated up after an inning or so. After cranking out 16 hits and 25 runs Friday against Gardiner, Lewiston produced 12 hits against EL pitcher Jenny Verrill. Michaud led the hit parade with three hits, three runs scored and a solo home run. Katie Morin had two hits and drove in a pair and Kim Bechard also had two hits. EL (0-2) got a pair of hits from Aly Keene and Jen Gallant.

“Our lineup is pretty solid up and down,” said Lewiston coach Fred Royer. “With the addition of a healthy Meagan Marcoux (who missed significant time last year to an illness), we do have a mix of power and slap-type hitters.”

EL’s first inning threat began with singles by Allie Sasser and Aly Keene. After a force out and a Gallant single, the bases were loaded with just one out. Michaud got a key strike out and then produced a ground ball out to end the threat. In the bottom of the inning, Lewiston made good on its chance. Michaud reached on an error, stole second and took third on a fielder’s choice. She scored on a Morin ground out.

“Amanda Michaud settled down in the first inning and once we got through that first inning, our defense and our offense matched up,” said Royer. “We played a solid all-around ballgame.”

Lewiston opened up the lead in the second with three runs on five hits. After an Ali Coleman double and Marcoux single, Jess Nadeau singled in a run. Then Allie Morin’s fly out scored Marcoux. A Michaud single brought home Nadeau for a 4-0 lead.

EL’s only other offensive burst came with a Keene leadoff single in the third. She was erased on a double play. Then Gallant doubled for EL’s final hit of the day.

“You have to take advantage of your opportunities early in this game,” said Keene. “You have to put pressure on the other team.”

Lewiston (3-0) added two more in the fourth when Morin singled in Michaud. She then scored on a Nicole Caron hit. Michaud had a solo homer to right in the fifth.

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