RUMFORD — Late in Wednesday’s game against Mountain Valley, the Lisbon softball team needed a spark. Junior pitcher Mackenzie Eaton provided it.
Eaton went the distance from the pitching circle and went yard from the plate, smacking a bases-loaded three-run homer that hit the top of the left-field fence and bounced over in the top of the sixth to help Lisbon secure a 9-5 win.
“She sets the tempo,” Lisbon coach Chris Bickford said. “It’s almost like being the quarterback of a football team, you know? She’s the pitcher, she’s a great hitter, too, so she sets it offensively and defensively.”
Eaton’s home run should have been a grand slam, but one of the base runners didn’t step on home plate.
Lisbon (7-1) took the lead in the top of the third inning and never relinquished it, although Mountain Valley (7-4) came close multiple times.
How it happened
• Mountain Valley, which was playing its second game in as many days, started the scoring in the bottom of the second with sophomore left fielder Mackenzie Gammons’ two-run triple. Lisbon evened it up in the third, as five straight batters reached base, then a sacrifice fly from Brynn Chase and a fielder’s choice from Julia Quagliaroli gave the visitors a 4-2 advantage.
• The Falcons tied the game again with two outs in the bottom of the third on back-to-back singles by Madeleine Brown and Madisyn McLean. Eaton gave the Greyhounds the lead with a sacrifice fly in the fourth and stymied the home team’s scoring chances in the bottom of the frame, despite having the bases loaded with nobody out.
“Get three outs,” Eaton said of her pitching mindset. “That’s really all I was thinking about, the next out and making sure that my team feels confident in themselves.”
Lisbon didn’t allow any more hits, as Eaton forced high pop-ups and groundouts. “They’re the best infield I could ask for. Honestly, those girls are my Day 1s. I love them so much.”
• Junior first baseman Aubriana Bright gave Lisbon its ninth run with an RBI double in the seventh. Sophomore Kyanah Wing scored Mountain Valley’s fifth run on a sacrifice fly from Brown.
Statistical leaders
• Mountain Valley: Addison Libby (7 IP, 12 hits, nine earned runs, three strikeouts, seven walks), Madeleine Brown (1 for 4, two RBI, run), Mackenzie Gammon (2 for 2, two RBI, walk), Madisyn McLean (2 for 3, RBI, run, walk).
• Lisbon: Mackenzie Eaton (7 IP, seven hits, four earned runs, four strikeouts, five walks; 1 for 2, HR, four RBI, two walks), Brooke Norman (3 for 5, two runs), Aubriana Bright (2 for 4, two RBI, two runs), Ava Kottman (3 for 5, one run).
Notable quotes
• “We can adjust defenses around to where (Eaton’s) pitching, if we’re trying to hit certain spots. She’s been phenomenal. Without her, probably wouldn’t be standing where we are. We have a good, solid hitting team, good defense, but you got to have the pitcher, too, and she’s been lethal for us.” — Lisbon coach Chris Bickford
• “We were really ready for their game, and I thought that the kids showed that. They kept coming back, putting pressure on them. We didn’t have that inning where we could put the brakes on them and take a lead. … I thought they played really hard. I thought we were chasing balls down in the outfield, made some really good plays in the infield, and I was happy with that.” — Mountain Valley coach Gary Dolloff
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