BIDDEFORD — Nathan Huot pitched seven innings of one-run ball, Sam Collins and Dominick Day each had two hits, and Biddeford downed Massabesic 8-1 in an SMAA baseball game Thursday at St. Louis Field.
A thunderstorm caused a one-hour delay in the third inning, but that didn’t stop the Tigers (5-9) from playing solid baseball.
“It was a great team win. We got hits up and down the lineup,” Biddeford Coach Keith Leblanc said.
“The pitching was excellent and the defense was very good as well.”
Biddeford took command with a four-run second inning. Following a pair of walks and an error, a balk forced in the first run. Day and Colin Lavigne added run-scoring hits in the inning.
Unfazed by the thunderstorm, Huot found comfort in his routine on the mound.
“My main focus was to keep changing pitches and keep them guessing,” Huot said. “I stayed loose and stuck to my high-priority pitches.”
Huot, who allowed only one runner to reach base through the fifth, finished with 11 strikeouts to go with two walks and three hits.
“He was on today. He got ahead in counts,” Leblanc said. “He did a great job of competing and keeping the hitters off balance.”
The game remained 4-0 until the fifth, when the Tigers began to pull away from the Mustangs (4-11).
Sam Collins singled to lead off, was sacrificed to second, then came around on a double by Nicholas Conley.
Casey Twomey then put the game out of reach, lining a hard two-run double to left field to make it 7-1.
The Tigers added a run in the sixth. Kerry Crepeau doubled to right, then scored on a double by Day.
Huot, a strike away from a shutout, surrendered his only run on a wild pitch in the seventh, scoring Remington Gaetjens.
Leblanc saw this as a big step forward for Biddeford but believes there are trying times ahead.
“The playoffs are coming and as I just reminded the guys, we haven’t won a road game yet,” Leblanc said.
“We’re going to be on the road in the first round of the playoffs, so that will be a big challenge for us. But consistency is the most important thing. Consistent pitching and consistent offense is what’s been challenging us all season. We have to control our ups and downs.”
Biddeford will look to win its third straight game Saturday when it meets Scarborough.
Massabesic is at South Portland on Saturday.
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