HAMPDEN – For Steve Fergerson, Brian Clarke, and the rest of the Bangor baseball team, it was a prime lesson in perseverance and how it pays off.

Neither player plays a feature role for the Rams, but when asked to step in and help, both delivered in big ways Tuesday afternoon.

Clarke’s pinch-hit single plated two runs in a pivotal sixth inning and Fergerson turned in four solid innings of relief on the mound to lead the Rams past a young but competitive Hampden Academy team 10-7.

“I know my playing time on this team is limited, so whenever I get the chance, I come in and do what I can to get a win,” said Clarke, a senior reserve player whose hit capped a four-run outburst in the sixth for the 6-2 Rams.

Clarke’s two-run hit gave Fergerson some solid insurance as he was able to work out of a jam in the bottom of the sixth after Hampden got one run back on Eric Libby’s RBI double to right center.

Fergerson (1-1) allowed five hits and one run with four strikeouts and no walks.

“I mixed it up from changeup to slider to curveball because I know they’re a good hitting team and our starter went more with deuces and fastballs,” said Fergerson, who entered the game with runners at first and third and no outs in the fourth before allowing an RBI fielder’s choice and then striking out the next two hitters. “Every game you have to make sure you’re loose and ready to go.”

Bangor took a 6-1 lead in the second on Chris Bombardier’s two-run single in the first and a three-run, four-hit second inning.

Hampden came back with a solo home run by Matt Jackson in the first and Eric Libby’s two-run homer in the third. The Broncos tied it up in the fourth with Evan Thomas’ two-run double and Blaine Meehan’s RBI ground ball.

“I was proud of these kids today,” said coach Marc Halsted, whose Broncos are now 2-5. “Bangor’s got a winning tradition, but our kids didn’t get down, went right after them, and fought back.”

Bangor retook the lead for good on Kevin Proctor’s one-out double and two wild pitches. Buddy Nickerson’s RBI single set up Clarke’s grounder through the left side.

“I really didn’t give him a fair chance because he [Clarke] was coaching first base,” said Rams coach Jeff Fahey. “I said ‘Are you ready to hit?’ and he said yes, and he went up and hit. Maybe that was a good thing that he didn’t have a chance to think about it.”

RAMS 10, BRONCOS 7

Bangor (6-2) Hampden Academy (2-5)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Hall, rf 5 2 2 0 Quimby, lf-p 3 1 0

Proctor, lf 2 3 1 0 Libby, 2b 4 1 3

Bombardier, ss 3 1 1 3 Jackson, cf 4 1

Treadwell, p 3 0 1 1 Dalton, 1b 4 1 0

Fergerson, p 1 1 0 0 Moran, lf-rf 3 1 0

Nickerson, cf 4 1 1 1 Thomas, p-rf 4 2

Dennis, dh 4 0 1 0 Paine, 3b 3 0 0

Willette, c 0 0 0 0 Brooks, c 3 1 0

Shain, 1b 4 1 1 0 Meehan, ss 2 0 1

Baker, 3b 2 0 0 0

a-Clarke 1 0 1 2

LaRochelle, 2b 4 1 1 1

Totals 33 10 10 8 Totals 30 7 9 7

a-singled for Baker in sixth

Bangor 240 004 0 ? 10

Hampden 102 301 0 ? 7

E?Bombardier; Libby, Paine 2; LOB?Bangor 10, Hampden 5; 2B?Proctor, Treadwell, Shain; Libby, Moran, Thomas; HR?Libby (1), Jackson (1); SB?Bombardier 2; Dalton, Moran

Bangor IP H R ER BB SO

Treadwell 3 4 6 4 4 0

Fergerson (W, 1-1) 4 5 1 1 0 4

Hampden IP H R ER BB SO

Thomas (L, 1-2) 5 1/3 7 10 7 6 1

Quimby 1 2/3 3 0 0 1 2

HBP?Proctor by Thomas; WP?Treadwell; Thomas 4, Quimby; BK?Thomas 2, Quimby; PB?Willette; T?2:12; ATT?58