BIDDEFORD — In an early-season litmus test, the Biddeford softball team passed with flying colors.

Plagued by a slow first inning and a deficit for the first time in the young year, the Tigers posted five runs in the second — highlighted by Nikki Kimborowicz’s bases-clearing double — and chalked up a 7-2 victory over fellow potential contender Bonny Eagle, Monday, in SMAA action at Doran Field.

“We knew they were gonna be a tough team when we came into it,” Kimborowicz said, “so to come out with this big of a win is great.”

It didn’t start great for the Tigers, though.

Stephanie Stockwell led off the game with a swinging-bunt single, stole second, was sacrificed to third by Lashawna Jackson, and scored on Connie Grovo’s groundout to put the Scots up 1-0.

Small ball to perfection.

Bonny Eagle had two more on base after a single and an error, but Biddeford starter Savannah Brownell left them stranded.

In the second, the Scots threatened again thanks to a lead-off single and a one-out walk, but again Brownell got out of the jam.

“She always pitches so well when she needs to,” Kimborowicz said. “She pitches strikes in tough innings when runners are on base. She does what she needs to do for us.”

Brownell’s bulldog effort was rewarded by her teammates, who spotted her more than enough breathing room.

Heather Fecteau led off the second with a walk and was sacrificed to second before Kaleigh Daigneault (single) and Haley Reny (walk) reached to load the bases.

Aimee Mortensen then hit a rocket through the wickets of the Scots’ Jordan Vanrosendael at second base to tie the score at 1-1, and Kimborowicz followed and smashed the first pitch she saw from Stockwell to the wall in left to score three more.

“I saw the people on base and I knew we were down one,” Kimborowicz said, “and it was great to just knock them in.”

“That was a key hit,” Biddeford coach Leon Paquin said, “and once we got the lead it seemed like we relaxed a little bit.”

Amythest Hersom brought her in two batters later with a two-out double to make increase the lead to 5-1.

It was the type of inning Paquin was hoping for to begin the game.

“I like to be more aggressive at the beginning,” he said. “If we learn from that, that’s fine, we just have to pick up the intensity to start. (But) the kids came through, (Stockwell) walked a few batters, (and) then we started having some good at bats and timely hits.”

Brownell (6 strikeouts) had little trouble closing out the Scots from there, retiring 15 of the last 20 batters she faced, including the final seven.

Biddeford (2-0) added two more runs in the fourth when Erin Grover doubled and later stole home, and on Fecteau’s RBI single, which scored Hersom.

The Tigers are back in action, Wednesday, against McAuley gunning for their third straight win.

“I’m very happy,” Paquin said. “Against Cheverus we competed and now we got two good wins to start the year and we’ll take it from here.”

— Contact Chris Brockman at 282-1535, Ext. 317 or at cbrockman@gwi.net.

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