AUBURN — The team with a dozen losses wasn’t supposed to send 11 batters to the plate and score six runs in the first inning.

Not that it was a complete shock, this being the second meeting of the season in the Lewiston-Edward Little softball rivalry. The Devils’ three one-run losses in the past two weeks testified to their improvement.

EL rebounded from that scare out of the starting blocks to win Friday, 18-10, in a slugfest at Sweetser Field.

“They are not the team that everybody sees in wins and losses. They’ve battled, they’ve battled, they’ve battled, and they gave us a challenge,” EL coach Elaine Derosby said. “They’re a good team. We’re a good team, too, and good teams that have some type of experience are going to pull out a win like this. This is a lesson for us.”

Hannah Smith, one of three seniors playing in her final regular-season home game, was 4-for-5 with four runs scored and four RBIs for the Eddies (9-4). Taylor Depot went 4-for-4, scored twice and drove in a pair.

Another upcoming graduate, Calli Murray, had three of EL’s 20 hits and crossed the plate three times. Emmy Lashua homered and drove in four runs.

“It was an emotional day, because today was (the seniors’) last day of school, too. We knew that they were good, even though their record doesn’t show it,” Smith said. “We started off a little slow, but we saw what they could do and then we picked it up. I’m really proud of us.”

EL scored three runs in the bottom of the first and five in the second. Lewiston (0-13) battled back with two in the third and one in the fourth for a 9-8 lead.

Depot’s double plated Smith and Lashua to put the Eddies in front for good in the bottom of the fourth.

Every Lewiston starter had either a hit or an RBI. Jordan Mynahan, Meagan Gosselin and Megan Theriault were repeat offenders for the Blue Devils. Mynahan led off the first-inning attack with a double and added a solo homer in the fifth.

“Being in such close games, we’re right on that edge. We need to get over it somehow,” Lewiston coach Erica Crowley said. “This was the most runs we’ve scored. The girls’ attitude, even when we had some errors, they came back and didn’t let it affect them.”

Mynahan’s blast made it 11-10 before the Eddies blew it open in their half of the fifth.

Grace Beaudet backed up her RBI double in the fourth with a two-run single. Smith and Lashua each notched RBIs. Lewiston committed three of its seven errors in the frame.

“They’re challenging everyone, and we got challenged today. I don’t know if we were quite ready,” Derosby said. “My kids decided they were going to buckle down and enjoy the journey. That’s our motto this year, and they enjoyed every minute of it, positive and negative. Today I think they enjoyed the adversity and how they worked together.”

Sarah Hammond picked up senior starter Molly Murray with one out in the first and went the duration to earn the victory. She finished the game with her ninth strikeout.

“The Battle of the Bridge is always a big game. It’s just going to happen,” Hammond said. “We knew we had to win. Our motivation is getting better for playoffs. We’re excited to get it done.”

Lewiston christened the upset bid with five hits in the first, including a two-run double by Gosselin and RBI singles from Theriault and Emily Mousseau. Lauren Belleau drove in another run.

Jordyn Reynolds and Karli Stubbs each added two hits for the Eddies.

“It’s always more fun to come back in a game,” Smith said. “I knew that we could do it if we worked hard.”

koakes@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link