RUMFORD – When Derek Giusto initially entered the game as a pinch hitter, he struck out.

A second opportunity proved to be extremely productive.

Giusto poked a single in the seventh inning to score Jon Charette with the game-winning run as Lisbon held on for a 6-5 victory over Mountain Valley Wednesday afternoon at Hosmer Field.

Charette (4-for-4, three runs scored) had singled leading off the seventh and moved to third on a single by winning pitcher Jon Tefft. Giusto stepped in and pushed a bunt that rolled foul down the first base line. On the next pitch by Falcon reliever Tim Turner (0-1), Giusto stuck his bat out and the balled sailed in to left field.

“I was just looking for a pitch to hit,” said Giusto. “I just knew that I didn’t want to go out on the field with the score tied in the bottom of the seventh. This is a big win for us.”

Mountain Valley had forced the issue by rallying back from a 5-2 deficit. Marcus Palmer scored on a wild pitch in the fifth. Aaron McPhee singled to lead off the sixth and pinch-runner Jeremy Sterling scored on a Ben Madigan triple. Madigan trotted home when the relay throw sailed out of play for an error.

The comeback was rare for the Falcons, who have struggled at the plate this season. Mountain Valley stranded eight runners on base.

“We just can’t get any clutch hits,”Mountain Valley coach Steve LaPointe said. “We haven’t had any all year long because when there are people on base, we usually hit a ground ball or pop up. Someone needs to step up because although we have the best record (in the MVC), our team batting average was only around .240 entering the game.”

Lisbon had 13 hits. Devon Knight and Aaron Farmer had two apiece. The Greyhounds, also missed some opportunities by stranding 12.

In the first inning, Lisbon scored three runs on a three of infield hits by Knight, Greg Roy and Charette. Mountain Valley starter Richie Ross was wild, issuing three walks.

“The team has been hitting well lately,” Lisbon coach Randy Ridley said. “We went through a lull when the hits weren’t falling in. But, we hit Terry Collins (Telstar) good on Monday and hopefully it will continue.”

Mountain Valley scored two runs in the third on a Pat Knapp sacrifice fly and a Travis Child (three hits) single. Child (three hits) was later thrown out at home plate on a solid throw from Greyhound left fielder Chris Kates.

“We dug ourselves in to a hole after that first inning,” LaPointe said. “But, Richie Ross bore down. The team kept plugging away.”