BIDDEFORD — Cody Petit’s one-out, bases-loaded double in the bottom of the fourth inning helped boost Biddeford to a 5-4 triumph over Cheverus, in SMAA baseball action at St. Louis Field, Tuesday.
Petit fell into an 0-2 count, then teed off on an offering by Cheverus (6-4) starter Joey Royer, driving it into the center field gap.
Behind the complete-game outing from right handed hurler Tyler Laverriere, the Tigers (5-5) interrupted a skid in which they had dropped three of their previous four starts.
They also grabbed a fistful of sorely needed Heal Points, crucial to their bid to make the playoffs.
“They were worth big points,” said Petit. “Coming back from a little losing streak, it’s nice to get a win against against a team that we were (supposed by some) to lose to.”
In fact the Stags had won six of their previous seven, but were held by Laverriere to just two hits through the first four frames.
“”˜T-Lav’ did a great job today,” said Petit, the Tigers’ catcher. “He’s been in some real tight spots, but he works his way through it. He digs down deep, and gets us out.”
Petit’s big opportunity arrived in the bottom of the fourth, after his teammates had filled the bases.
Nick Papa worked Royer for a lead-off walk, then was singled to second, one out later, by Trevor Fleurent.
The table was fully set for Petit with a walk to Tyler Audie.
Petit fell behind 0-2 after nubbing the first two pitches foul.
However, he stayed in an aggressive frame of mind, and when Royer left the next pitch up, Petit turned on it.
“Almost 98 percent of my hits this year have come with two strikes,” he said. “I’m a two-strike hitter. I like it.”
All three runners legged it home, while Petit wound up on second.
“Cody did a nice job,” said Biddeford coach Casey Roy. “That’s the sort of thing that wins ball games. If he doesn’t get that big hit, right now, we might be on the other side of the (result).”
Cheverus, however, wasn’t ready to fold.
The Stags got one run back in the fifth on a two-out solo shot over the fence in right field.
Later, the Stags came to within 4-3 on a two-run blast to dead center by Jake Watson.
Then, in the bottom of the sixth, the Tigers added an unearned insurance run, 5-3, on a two out RBI single by Nate Curran.
That tally became crucial when Cheverus threatened to come back in the top of the seventh.
The Stags pushed across one run, and still had the bases loaded with two away.
But Laverriere sealed the win by striking out Jack Bushey to end the game.
“Tyler gave us an excellent outing,” said Roy, “and gave us a chance to win.”
Biddeford will travel to Westbrook, Thursday.
— Contact Dan Hickling at 282-1535, ext. 318 or at dhickling@gwi.net.
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