SCARBOROUGH — Biddeford came closer to beating undefeated Scarborough than any other team this season Saturday. But after forcing the game into extra innings it still wasn’t enough as the Red Storm kept its perfect record intact with a 5-4 win in eight innings in an SMAA baseball game at McFarland Field.

The Tigers (1-5) nearly got on the board in the top of the first inning, as Brady Fleurent and Patrick Wilson hit consecutive one-out singles, but Scarborough starter Jayme Lappin got out of the inning with a groundout and strikeout.

“We’ve had that a lot, where we’ve left many, many runners on base,” said Biddeford head coach Keith Leblanc. “Again today we left quite a few runners on base in key times.”

The Red Storm (6-0) then took advantage of its own baserunners, thanks to some sloppy defense by the Tigers. Brendan Hall hit a one-out single, and after Nick Bagley grounded out, Ben Greenberg drove Hall home with a single to right. Greenberg advanced to third on the play as Biddeford right fielder Matt Boynton misplayed the ball and it rolled well past him. Sam Wessel then drove Greenberg home with a double to right-center.

Scarborough scored two more runs in the fifth, again thanks to a Biddeford error. Pinch hitter Trevor Sparda led off by reaching on an error by Wilson at short. Sparda then moved to second on a groundout by Aaron Ravin, and scored on a triple to deep right off the bat of Hall. Hall then scored on a sacrifice fly by Nick Bagley. Greenberg tripled to deep center, and Biddeford starter Corey Collard hit Wessel with a pitch, but then got out of the jam by getting Sam Terry to ground out to second.

Collard didn’t allow a hit after the fifth, but didn’t get any run support until Biddeford began to rally in the sixth. After the Tigers put runners in scoring position in four of the first five innings ”“ including runners at third in the first and third ”“ Biddeford finally sent a run across in the sixth. Bryan Gelinas led off with a single, and Casey Twomey singled through the right side of the infield two batters later. Chris Gregoire reached on an error by Eric Pemberton to load the bases, which allowed Gelinas to score on a wild pitch by relief pitcher Nate Wessel. Wessel then walked Collard to re-load the bases, but Fleurent grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the threat.

Collard said he thought breaking through for one run in the sixth helped to start the rally in the seventh.

“It would have been a lot tougher going in four-nothing, knowing we haven’t scored. Getting that one run helped,” he said.

Desperate for runs in the top of the seventh, the Tigers practiced patience to tie the game. After Wilson grounded out to lead off the inning, six straight batters reached, including four consecutive walks. Corey Brown hit a one-out double, followed by Gelinas walking on four pitches. Nick Leblond then drew a full-count walk to load the bases. Twomey walked to knock in a run, and knock out Wessel. Matt Hartl came on in relief and walked Gregoire on a 3-2 pitch to knock in another run, and Matt Cote drove in the tying run with an infield single to second.

“When you’re talking about a three-run deficit in the seventh inning, you need baserunners. It doesn’t have to be hit, hit, hit. It can be walk, hit, walk, and the kids did a nice job of getting on base and tying it up,” said Leblanc. “We just need that big hit to finish them off.”

The Tigers couldn’t muster any more runs, however, as Collard struck out and Fleurent grounded out back to the pitcher. Collard got through the first two batters in the bottom of the seventh before Greenberg reached on another error by Wilson. Greenberg stole second to put himself into scoring position, but Collard struck out Sam Wessel looking with a nasty breaking ball to send the game into extra innings.

“I thought Collard pitched outstanding,” said Leblanc. “He’s a competitor. I have a lot of confidence in him, and I thought he pitched very well today.”

Gelinas hit a two-out single to right in the top of the eighth, but LeBlond hit into a fielder’s choice to set the stage for Scarborough to come out with a win.

Collard opened the bottom of the eighth by hitting Terry with a pitch, which ended his long outing. Nate Huot came on in relief and saw Terry move to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nate Wessel. Huot then intentionally walked Hartl to make a double play a possibility, but threw a wild pitch, which allowed the runners to advance. Pemberton then hit a fly ball deep enough to center to bring home Terry for the winning run, but it was made easier when Twomey dropped the fly for the Tigers’ seventh and final error.

“We struggled the whole game. Then the seventh game, we got a couple guys on, and the energy just picked up. Ended up tying the game, and Scarborough is probably the best team in the league,” said Collard. “Tough one to lose.

“It’s real tough. Especially coming back in the seventh inning, and then going into extras. It’s a hard one to lose.”

It was the first time all season that a team had scored to tie the Red Storm ”“ who shut out its first three opponents ”“ but it still wasn’t enough for Biddeford, which has now lost twice in extra innings.

— Staff Writer Wil Kramlich can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 323.