LISBON FALLS — The Lisbon softball team worked its way back from a deficit twice Friday.

But when Carrabec broke open a lead for the third time, the Greyhounds were out of comebacks.

The Cobras used two runs in the sixth and three in the seventh to open up the lead for good in a back-and-forth, 20-14 win over Lisbon.

Lisbon rallied from 6-0 and 9-4 deficits to take a lead of 11-9 and get within 15-14, but the Greyhounds couldn’t finish off a potential third straight win.

“That’s the story of our season — battling back,” Lisbon coach Terri Trudell said. “The kids are young. The pitcher’s young. She’s a sophomore. My catcher’s young. She’s a sophomore. That really plays into it. It takes a little while for them to settle down and settle in.”

Carrabec (3-6) built a 6-0 lead in the first and were up 9-4 before Lisbon (3-7) rallied. The Cobras responded well in the final two innings to build the lead back.

“We’ll take it, ” Carrabec coach Craig Knight said. “We’ve played good and we’ve played really bad. I’ll take an ugly one. Both teams hit the ball and I’ll take it.”

Mickayla Willette had three hits and three RBI. Courtney Lancaster drove in three with a pair of hits. Jess Vaillancourt earned the win. She pitched the first three innings and was relieved by Chelse Pray in the fourth. Vaillancourt returned in the fifth and  allowed just two hits the rest of the way.

“I thought she threw better then,” said Knight. “I don’t know if it was the break or if she refocused, but it worked.”

Lisbon’s Kailyn Hill struck out nine but walked 10 and hit seven batters. Lisbon got four hits and three RBI from Chantal Bisson while Olivia Harrington drove in a pair with three hits. Taylor Plourde plated three with one hit.

“Offensively, we hit the ball well,” said Trudell. “Defensively, if it’s not a pitching situation, then the errors are what get us.”

Carrabec built the early 6-0 lead with the help of an error, three walks, two hit batters and three wild pitches. Lisbon got a Bisson single in the bottom of the inning.

Lisbon got within 7-4 in the third after a Harrington RBI double and a Plourde two-run double. Carrabec made it 9-4 on an bases loaded walk and an error.

In the fourth, Lisbon scored seven runs to take an 11-9 lead.  Ari Kahler tripled in a pair while Harrington, Bailey Madore, Bisson and Monica Austin singled in runs.

Carrabec retook the lead in the fifth with six runs. Lancester doubled in a pair. Skyla Murray singled in two and Willette plated one with a single for a 15-11 lead.

In the bottom of the inning, Lisbon got within one. Bisson singled in a run. A Plourde fielder’s choice scored a run and a Molly Nicholson triple made it 15-14.

“They never gave up,” said Trudell. “That’s something I’ve been very fortunate with this team. There’s many times we could have just rolled over. They really enjoy the sport, and they want to continue winning.”

In the sixth, Lancester singed in a run and a Willette single and error made it 17-14. The Cobras added three more in the seventh on a walk, wild pitch and a Libby Chestnut sacrifice fly.`

“I’m proud of my kids,” said Knight, who had four freshmen in his starting lineup, including Chestnut at third and Willette at short. “Those freshmen are the real deal. They come to play. My poor third baseman. We don’t pitch fast. So it’s on her shoulders. My shortstop, she played well too.”

kmills@sunjournal.com