ORONO, Maine — The defending state Class C champion Bucksport High School softball team appeared to be on its way to a 28th consecutive win when it built a five-run lead on Wednesday.
But Peyton Trudel’s two-run single highlighted a seven-run, fourth-inning rally and the Red Riots held on for a 7-6 victory.
Orono (8-4) collected its fifth straight win and avenged a 3-1 setback at Bucksport on May 2.
Bucksport is now 10-1.
“This is the first time we’ve beaten Bucksport in Orono in a long time,” said fifth-year Orono coach Kristen Espling, who added that she had never beaten Bucksport as a coach or as a player at Caribou High School.
“This feels really good,” said sophomore righthander Tianna Milton, who scattered 11 hits while pitching a complete game.
“I just tried to tune everything out and focus on winning. I just avoid throwing the ball down the middle. I tried to pitch to the outside or inside [corners]. It was awesome,” added Milton, who said her drop ball was her most effective pitch.
“Tianna was phenomenal,” said Espling.
Molly McCluskey started the fourth-inning rally with a resounding double to right-center. Katelyn Richards reached when her line drive was dropped in the outfield and raced to second on an ensuing throwing error.
Katie Walker’s sacrifice fly to right made it 5-1 and the alert Richards tagged up and went to third. Lilly Leland’s sharp single to center scored Richards.
Maiah Cyr’s infield single and Emily LeClair’s pop-fly single just beyond the infield loaded the bases. With the Golden Bucks employing a five-infielder alignment, Maddie Dichard hit a slow roller to third that went for a run-scoring base hit.
The Bucks remained in the five-infielders scheme and Trudel capitalized when she lined an opposite-field two-run single to right.
Trudel said she didn’t notice the five-infielder setup.
“I thought [right fielder Kaylee Grindle] was going to be right there but she was over [in right-center],” said Trudel. “That was definitely a good feeling. The pitch was a little outside. [Espling] said if it’s good, go for it.”
The go-ahead run scored in strange fashion as left fielder Madysen Robichaud made a terrific running catch on Lizzie White’s foul fly ball, but her momentum carried her over the out-of-bounds line, which allowed the sixth run to score.
An errant pickoff throw by the catcher allowed the seventh run to score.
“They hit the ball where we weren’t,” said Bucksport senior first baseman Tyler Dupont.
“They’re better than they’ve been in the past,” said Bucksport senior third baseman Julia Zavalza.
Darian Jellison singled home a sixth-inning run for the Bucks but Milton stranded two runners by getting a foul-out and she retired the side in the seventh for her seventh win in 11 decisions.
She struck out four, walked two and hit a batter.
Jellison had helped stake the Bucks to a 5-0 lead with a pair of run-scoring singles. Makenzie Smith doubled home a run and Emily Hunt singled home another one. Tyler Dupont’s fielder’s choice delivered another run.
“Orono played great defense and they hit the ball well for that one inning and it got us,” said Bucksport coach Mike Carrier.
McCluskey had a single to go with her double and Leland singled twice.
Jellison had four singles and three RBIs for the Bucks. Smith had a single and double and sophomore Katelin Saunders pitched two innings of two-hit scoreless relief. Maggie Bires pitched the first four innings.