DXFIELD – The Dirigo Cougars scored early and often, including three runs each by Alyssa Wade and Kayla Chiasson, who helped lead the way offensively in a 16-4 win against Carrabec in a Class C preliminary at Marble Park on Wednesday.

The game was called in the bottom of the sixth inning because of the 12-run mercy rule.

Dirigo jumped ahead 6-0 in the first inning and never looked back as Carrabec pitcher Courtney Turner was plagued with wildness. Katrina Pulk and freshman Alyssa Charrity singled home Nikki Berry and Angela Knox, while Wade and Chiasson each scored on wild pitches or errors. Every Cougar starter scored at least once in the game and they scored in every inning.

“This feels really good,” Dirigo coach Clint Dolloff said. “We accomplished two of our three goals that we had set at the beginning of the season. One was to host a playoff game and the second was to win it. The girls were patient at the plate, and you need to be when the opposing pitcher has control problems.”

No. 8 Dirigo advances to play top-ranked Georges Valley in a quarterfinal game in Thomaston this afternoon at 2:30.

It was sweet redemption for the Cougars who had lost to Carrabec 10-9 on the same field three weeks ago. So, limiting mistakes was going to be a factor in the rematch.

“We were excited about having a home playoff game,” Dirigo third base man Morgan Hutchins said. “It was important for us to win because a Dirigo team hadn’t done it for a while. The main thing was to keep our head in the game and stay positive.”

Dirigo scored three in the second, keyed by a Hutchins RBI groundout and an RBI double by Chiasson. Wade scored on a wild pitch in the third to give the Cougars a 10-2 lead.

The Cougars’ starting pitcher Kyme Dolloff struggled in the fourth as Carrabec loaded the bases with no outs and runs scored on an error and a wild pitch. Dirigo caught a break when Wade threw from left field to Charrity, who tagged out Sarah Nadeau at home plate. The Cobras had runners on, but Chiasson came in relief and induced a fielder’s choice, and Berry snagged a ground ball and stepped on second to end the threat.

“The switch was made at the right time,” Dolloff said. “Kyme has four different speeds, but Kayla throws her fast ball at one speed and the ball comes in and (dips) down. Carrabec failed to adjust.”

Chiasson retired eight of the nine batters she faced and the Cougars scored five more runs. In the sixth, Charrity led off with a double and Brooke Kersey walked. The game ended with Dolloff lined a shot past the second base man that rolled to the fence.

“I was looking for an outside pitch” Dolloff said. “That’s what I got and hit it to (right side). This feels really good for the team to win.”