STANDISH — The Buckfield softball team has had to squeeze much of its season into the last couple of weeks.

Between rainouts and schedule changes, the Bucks had to survive a frantic finish to the regular season just to get to Tuesday’s Western D final.

Still, the Bucks were in position to avenge last year’s loss to Richmond in Tuesday’s rematch, but Buckfield saw its season end abruptly in the seventh inning at Bailey Field at Saint Joseph’s College.

Back-to-back hits by Lindsy Hoopingarner and Ciarra Lancaster lifted the Bobcats to a 3-2 win over the Bucks. Lancaster’s triple pushed the winning run across with two outs.

“This is my last year,” said Buckfield coach Ken Farrington, who is stepping down after the season following seven years with the program. “I wanted to get here to the end. I had hoped to win it, but I can’t be more proud of my kids.”

It was even a struggle for the Bucks (11-5) on the final day. Pitcher Heather Clavet took a line drive off the right ankle in the first. Shortstop Danielle Patrie was bothered by a bad back. Both tried to shake off the injury and play on.

“They gutted it out,” said Farrington, whose team played much of its regular season in the final two weeks. “We had some chances. My girls had a tough season all year. To get here, I was proud they got here. Today, they played well enough to win.”

Clavet scattered nine hits and struck out five. After allowing an early run, Clavet shrugged off the injury and allowed just one run until Richmond (17-0) got the game-winner in the seventh.

“Not only that, she’s got a cold,” said Farrington. “I knew by the fifth inning she’d start to weaken. Some of them floated up there. (Lancaster) got a hit, and it was a terrific hit.”

Hoopingarner, who had three hits for the Bobcats in last year’s championship win, gave Richmond new life in the seventh with a double. Though the Bobcats started the inning with the top of the order up, the first two batters struck out.

“That was a great play for her to get to second on that hit,” said Coughlin, who has just one senior on the team. “She hurt them last year, too.”

Lancaster walked to the plate knowing the game was on the line.

“I feel it when I have a lot of pressure, but I tried not to think about it,” said the sophomore third baseman. “It can go either way. I can’t really help it at all.”

She drilled a gapper toward right. Hoopingarner scored easily as Lancaster finished with a triple.

“I just swing when I feel like I  can swing,” said Lancaster. “Sometimes I miss, and sometimes I do that. I couldn’t believe it. I watched it the whole way.”

Leandra Martin got the win for Richmond. It was her third against the Bucks this season. She scattered eight hits and struck out nine.

“Last year, I thought (Jamie) Plummer could beat them,” said Coughlin. “This year, I thought Leandra could beat them. She’s not going to throw hard, but she’s going to throw junk and hit corner. It worked.”

Richmond got the first run after Tara Hurley tripled. She scored when a grounder by Hoopingarner was bobbled. The Bobcats threatened when Lancaster singled a liner off Clavet’s leg. She shrugged off the injury and ended the inning with a strikeout and ground out.

The Bucks tied it in the second with back-to-back hits with two outs. Alannah Knox, one of three freshmen starters for the Bucks,  singled in Abby Bragg, who finished with three hits for the Bucks.

Buckfield had two hits in the third but came up empty. Danielle Patrie had a bunt hit to start the inning but was thrown out stealing. With two outs, Alicia Patrie tripled but was stranded at third when Clavet popped out to the catcher to end the inning.

The Bucks took the lead in the fourth. With two outs and Bragg at second, Knox hit a dribbler back to Martin. She had plenty of time to throw for the final out but sailed the toss wide to the left, allowing Bragg to race home.

Richmond tied it in the bottom of the inning. Alyssa Pearson singled with one out and moved to second on a fielder’s choice. Heather Brown followed with a double to make it 2-2.

The Bucks had the chance to take the lead in the sixth. Clavet and Bragg each singled to start the inning. The Bobcats escaped the inning with a force and a strikeout before catching a Buckfield runner stealing.

“We just knew if we could get three outs, we could finish it,” said Lancaster.

kmills@sunjournal.com

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