Josh Murphy earned the win and drove in the go-ahead runs as Bessey Motors earned a 3-2 win over the Trenton Arcadians Post 207 in the opening round of the American Legion baseball state tournament Saturday at Husson University in Bangor.

After back-to-back singles by Hunter Tardiff and Ethan Cutler with one out in the top of the fifth inning, Murphy broke hit a two-run double that gave Bessey a 3-1 lead.

Murphy, a recent Lewiston High School graduate, started on the mound for Bessey and struck out five in 4 2/3 innings while allowing four hits and two runs and walking two batters. Cutler earned the save, relieving Murphy and holding the Arcadians scoreless over 2 1/3 inning while striking out two and giving up two hits.

Trenton opened the scoring in the first inning when Ty Giberson — who last month pitched Bucksport to a Class C state title game win over Lisbon — drove in David Baugh with a sacrifice fly.

Oxford Hills-based Bessey evened the score in the top of the second. Aiden Gonzalez led off with a single and scored on Isaiah Oufiero’s two-out hit to left field.

The Arcadians cut Bessey’s lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth when Giberson doubled home Hunter Curtis. Trenton threatened again in the bottom of the seventh, which Miles Palmer led off with a single and then advanced to scoring position on a sacrifice bunt, but Cutler induced a pair of fly outs to end the game.

Next up in the double-elimination tournament, Bessey Motors faces Franklin County on Sunday at 3 p.m., while the Arcadians play an elimination game at 9 a.m.

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