KENNEBUNK — Ashley Tinsman hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the top of the 10th inning, and Cape Elizabeth rallied from an early four-run deficit to beat Kennebunk 10-9 in a Western Maine Conference softball game Saturday.

The Capers (1-1) trailed 4-0 after two innings and 7-5 after six innings but fought back each time.

“The kids didn’t quit, they just kept battling,” Cape Elizabeth Coach Joe Henrikson said. “We made the plays when we had to and we got the hits when we had to.”

Kennebunk (0-2) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, thanks to an RBI double by starting pitcher Meaghan Dube and a two-run homer by senior first baseman Allison King.

Lindsey Gregoire, a freshman, scored on an error in the second inning to make it 4-0.

Cape’s offense began to click in the third inning. After a pair of singles, senior outfielder Michaela Pinette hit a two-out, two-run single to cut Kennebunk’s lead in half.

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A pair of infield errors allowed Kennebunk freshman catcher Brittney Gregoire to score in the bottom of the third. But the Capers responded immediately with RBI doubles by Tinsman and second baseman Tess Haller in the fourth inning to pull to within 5-4.

Rachel Garrity tied the game with an RBI single in the fifth.

Kennebunk reclaimed the lead in the bottom half. After a single by King, Brittney Gregoire belted a home run.

The Capers tied it again in the seventh, however, when Pinette sent a two-run homer over the left-field fence.

Lily Jordan came on in relief of Cape Elizabeth starter Madeline Bauman in the sixth and held the Rams scoreless in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings.

The game remained tied into the 10th, when a pair of errors allowed the Capers to grab their first lead of the game with a three-run rally.

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Then it was up to Jordan to finish it off, which she did despite surrendering a two-run homer to junior second baseman Malori Cole.

“I’m looking forward to watching our team develop into a really strong group,” said Jordan. “We haven’t had much of a preseason, but once we get to the point where we’re all working together, (and) have both the bats and the defense going, we’re going to be really strong.”

Henrikson liked the way his players answered every challenge.

“They didn’t quit. They fought back,” he said. “We were down 4-0, (Kennebunk) had a runner on third base in extras ready to win the game, but we fought back. That’s us in a nutshell.”


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