SANFORD — Dylan Koza singled in the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth inning Monday to help Windham to a 4-2 victory against Sanford in an SMAA baseball opener at Goodall Park.

With the score 2-2 entering the eighth, Sanford called on its third pitcher of the game, James Roche, to face the 5-6-7 spots in the Eagles’ order.

Mitch Eskilson led off with a single, followed by a six-pitch walk to Blake Houser.

With no outs, Koza delivered a single to left that scored Eskilson.

“(The contact) could have been cleaner but a hit’s a hit,” said Koza.

The Eagles added a run on a single by Evan Coughlin.

Koza went 3 for 3 with a walk and two RBI.

“(I was) just … trying to make contact and drive in the runs,” he said.

The 5-6-7 spots in the order came up big for Windham, going a combined 5 for 10 with two walks and four runs.

“Koza was big out of that seven-hole today with three hits and Eskilson to lead off that eighth inning with the base hit to right field really sparked us,” said Windham Coach Brody Artes.

The game was scoreless until the Eagles broke through for two runs in the fourth.

Koza delivered the first run with a single. He scored later in the inning on an error.

Windham right-hander Tanner Bernier was brilliant, earning the win with seven innings of one-hit ball.

Bernier allowed two runs (one earned), walking one and striking out three.

Bernier allowed his only hit in the fifth, a double by Brad Bouchard.

“(Bernier) kind of had a bit of a mental lapse in that one inning,” said Artes. “And a lot of that was due to the fact he had just given up his first hit.”

Bouchard advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a balk.

Later in the inning, Keith Kerrigan of Sanford hit a sacrifice fly to make it 2-2.

“(Bernier) did a really good job of battling back and settling down after that inning. He got ahead a lot and let the defense do the work behind him,” said Artes.

Frankie Veino drew the opening-day start for Sanford. He threw 89 pitches while grinding through four innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits. He walked three and struck out two.

“(Veino) wasn’t on. He was missing high. I don’t know if it was opening-game jitters … but he was up high,” said Sanford Coach Mark Boissonneault.

Bouchard relieved in the fifth and threw three shutout innings, allowing three hits without issuing a walk. He also struck out two.

“I know we lost,” said Boissonneault, “but I’m pleased with our effort.”

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