MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — East Longmeadow, Mass., rallied from a four-run deficit over the final three innings to escape with a 9-8 victory over Gayton Post in an elimination game at the American Legion Baseball Northeast Region on Saturday.

The Lewiston- and Auburn-based team scored five runs in the third inning to open a 7-3 lead through six innings. After the Massachusetts champions fought back with two runs in the seventh, East Longmeadow took advantage of three consecutive walks to start the eighth inning to complete the comeback.

Matt O’Neil provided the deadly blow with a three-run double with one out. After an error on the play allowed O’Neil to advance to third, Steve Moyers followed with a sacrifice fly, which scored the eventual winning run.

But as what happened Friday, Gayton did not go out quietly. The Maine champions fought back when Scott Ouellette hit a single down the left-field line to score Jeff Keene from second to close the gap to 9-8. But with runners on first and second and no outs, reliever Colin O’Neil came in and struck out the next two Gayton hitters and recorded the final out of the inning on a fielder’s choice.

Still, Gayton had one final gasp, loading the bases in the ninth on Alex Wong’s infield single and a pair of walks with two out. With the tying run 90 feet away, O’Neil recorded the final out when he caught a foul pop up for the final out.

Gayton enjoyed a 13-8 advantage in hits, including doubles by Wong, Mekae Hyde, Corbin Hyde and Alex Parker. Scott Ouellette drove in three runs, while Corbin Hyde had two RBIs.

Despite the 13 hits and eight runs, Gayton vailed to take advantage of several scoring opportunities, stranding 16 runners on base.