The Red Riots’ Chris Foley swung a big bat against Massabesic Thursday afternoon, going three for three to score his team’s first run in the bottom second and crossing home himself in the bottom of the fourth inning. All told, South Portland put up five in the fourth, ultimately going on to win 6-0.

The Riots’ victory, which played out at Wainwright Sports Complex in South Portland, bumps the team to 9-2 in 2014; the team hovers in A West’s first place, just a few Heal Points ahead of Biddeford and Marshwood, both 10-2 and tied for second.

“We just took some good swings today,” said South Portland head coach Mike Owens. “We’ve been really struggling at the plate, the last couple weeks. We’ve really focused hard on coming down on the baseball to try to hit line drives and hard ground balls. We’ve been hitting a lot of fly balls, getting ourselves out early on curveballs.”

Jacob Brown took first for the Riots on a dead ball, during the team’s second ups. He stole second on Brad Sowerby’s turn in the box, and reached home when Foley drove a single into center for 1-0. South Portland’s bats quieted then – but the Mustangs’ bats never got loud, and the Riots would’ve won without scoring another run.

“Foley got a big, two-out single to allow us to relax a little,” Owens said. “We’ve been struggling to score, and that first one’s always the hardest. He put together three great at-bats. The bottom of the lineup really got us going today.”

They did, though – five more, in fact, all in the fourth. Foley kicked off the action with a hard grounder back to Massabesic pitcher Remy Gaetjens, who could get a glove on the ball in time, giving Foley first. Teammates Nick Troiano and Anthony Degifico then belted back-to-back singles to load the bases. Cosmo Romano grounded as well; the Mustangs had a play anywhere, and might’ve turned a DP, but chose to throw to home. The ball got there late, and Foley scored.

A balk by Gaetjens brought Troiano home again, and Jon Vickers’ double into center did the same for Degifico. Romano crossed home on a second balk, and Vickers on a Robert Graff grounder into center. Bang bang bang: 6-0. The remainder of the game passed uneventfully.

“It’s good to get those big innings,” Owens said. “That’s usually how games are won. They know they can [do it]; the way we started the season, we hit the ball really well. We know we’re capable. It’s just, baseball’s a funny game, and we’ve run into some good pitchers.”

South Portland traveled to Hadlock Field to face Deering on Saturday the 24th for their follow-up bout; they visit reigning State Champs Westbrook (7-3 in ninth place) on Tuesday the 27th and Windham (5-6, 13^th place) on Thursday the 29th.

Brad Sowerby gets the win for South Portland.

“We made six errors against Portland on Tuesday,” Owens said, “and we went back to basics on fielding. We had probably our best practice of the year, yesterday.”

South Portland second baseman Jon Vickers tags out a Massabesic runner.Robert Graff knocks a ball up high during the Red Riots’ home game against Massabesic Thursday afternoon.Jacob Brown arrives on second just ahead of the throw.South Portland’s Brad Sowerby releases his throw toward home.South Portland’s Chris Foley beats the throw to home.Riots second baseman Cosmo Romano waits on the action at the plate.