One big inning was all the Westbrook High softball team needed as the Blazes finished the regular season with a 7-4 win over Noble on Tuesday. Behind steady pitching from senior ace Brittni Keites, the Blazes paced their way to a victory that improves their record to 6-10.

Noble jumped out to 1-0 a lead in the top of the first after Erica Fernandez and Darcy Lajoie hit back-to-back doubles with two outs. Keites battled out of that jam, escaping with just the one run allowed. The double was the first of three hits for Fernandez.

In the home half of that inning, the Blazes answered with Olivia Hebert and Kate Cottrell both scoring on passed balls after singling. Karleigh Gaudreau followed with an RBI single. The Blazes quickly built a lead, and padded it on a Julia Cuddy RBI down the right field line just past Noble first baseman Kasey Woodworth. Cuddy was thrown out at home to end the inning, but the Blazes had pulled ahead, 4-1.

“The first inning was huge,” said Noble coach Rick Melanson. “For them to come back out and put four runs up was important for them.”

The Blazes led the Knights (0-16) from the first inning on. Noble would trim the deficit to two in the top of the fourth when Jessica Paey launched an RBI double to deep left field.

The Blazes would respond once again just an inning later, when Cottrell launched an RBI double to center field. She would later score on a throwing error by catcher Erica Anderson, giving the Blazes a 6-2 edge.

Westbrook added another run in the bottom of the sixth, taking a 7-2 lead into the final inning. The Knights scored twice in the top of the seventh. Darcy Lajoie smacked a two-out hit into center field with two runners on base, but Maria Romano’s cannon throw to the plate ended the game when a Noble runner tried to score on the play.

Keites was solid in her final start for the Blazes, striking out four and going the distance.

“[Keites] has been our number one probably since she was a freshman,” said Blazes coach Peter Wescott. “She pitched well. She had some moments when she had to bear down, but she got the job done. Having her senior leadership out there is key.”

The Blazes were pleased to send the seniors out on a winning note.

“It’s great for the seniors,” said Wescott. “Their last memory of this place and of Westbrook softball is a win, and they all contributed.”

Three Westbrook seniors were honored in a pre-game ceremony, with Keites, Kate Cottrell, and Julia Cuddy presenting a bouquet of flowers to their parents.