SCARBOROUGH — With her softball team struggling early and falling behind by three runs, sophomore Chloe Griffin’s first career home run couldn’t have come at a better time for Scarborough High.

Griffin unloaded a no-doubt two-run drive over the tall left-field fence and into the parking lot in the third inning Monday. The offense came to life from there, and the Red Storm came away with a 13-4 victory against Sanford.

It was the program’s 43rd straight regular-season win and its 27th consecutive victory at home.

“That was huge,” said leadoff hitter Maggie Murphy. “That was a momentum builder. It’s players and hits like that that get us going. When we’re down, things like that get us back on top.”

Griffin added a two-run double and walked twice, and was joined by Murphy (4 for 4, triple, three stolen bases, walk) in scoring three runs.

“That was the key to everything, going out there and getting that big hit,” said Scarborough Coach Tom Griffin. “You could see all of the energy come back. We know any of the girls can do the same thing so it just gave us confidence.”

The Red Storm pounded out 14 hits, and also got two-run homers from Chloe Gorey and Kaleigh Scoville (2 for 3, two walks).

“We worked hard all winter long and we knew we could come back if we just made adjustments each time through the lineup,” said Griffin. “Each time we went through the lineup we were saying to each other ‘OK, we can do this differently or that differently.'”

Sanford pitcher Jen Jones was able to hold Scarborough in check the first time through the order before its depth proved too much to handle as the game continued.

Scarborough sent a combined 22 hitters to the plate between the fifth and sixth innings, including an eight-run, 14-batter sixth.

“The thing that makes them very good is one through nine, they have great hitters,” said Sanford Coach Mike Bailey. “You really have to focus every single batter. There are no freebies in that lineup.”

Added Murphy: “It was just getting everyone to relax, but keep the excitement that we know we’re all good hitters and we know how to come back.

Lilly Volk earned the pitching win, tossing four innings of one-hit relief with four strikeouts, surrendering one unearned run. Abbie Murrell started for the Red Storm, allowing three runs, two earned, in three innings.

“We call it a three-headed monster here,” said Coach Griffin. “We have three outstanding pitchers and we’re going to use all of them.

“It was Lilly’s turn to come in in relief and she was warmed up for the game. She’s a competitor, the kids have a lot of confidence in her, and she comes in and throws a lot of strikes.”

Jones led Sanford, going 2 for 3, driving in two runs and scoring another. Nicole Main, Marli Wilson and Lauren Thompson also scored for Sanford.

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