BUCKSPORT – Terren Hall felt a sense of relief as soon as the Bucksport High softball team recorded the first out of the seventh inning of Tuesday afternoon’s game against Hermon. There was no way the Golden Bucks wanted a repeat of what happened the last time they faced the Hawks.

Instead of giving up a game-winning home run as she did in a May 1 loss, Hall got out of the inning – and Tuesday’s game – without any damage, and without giving up a run.

Hall tossed a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts and the Bucks scrapped for their runs in a 3-0 victory over Hermon at a wet John Wardwell Field.

It was a much-needed win for the defending Class B state champion Golden Bucks (7-3), who found themselves at No. 8 in the Eastern Maine Class B Heal Points released Tuesday after losing two straight. It’s the lowest ranking for a Bucksport team in coach Mike Carrier’s 17 years.

It was also Bucksport’s Senior Day.

“We were a lot more confident today than we’ve been in the past few days,” Hall said. “I think we’re coming around.”

The Bucks already had their three-run lead and Hall was dominating, but the game wasn’t really in hand until the Bucks registered that first out in the seventh. Hall needed to keep runners off base because Hermon standout Ashley Kelley was due to be the second batter of the inning.

It was Kelley who hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to beat the Bucks 3-2 earlier this month.

Hall induced a leadoff groundout, so when Kelley singled to center there was no harm done. Hall fanned the third batter and the Bucksport defense forced out Kelley at second to end the game.

“It was very good,” Hall said of the first out. “It got me more pumped knowing that my players can get the outs behind me. If she got on base, fine.”

Hermon ace Kelley struck out eight and scattered six hits.

“I just wanted to keep it low, not give them anything too high up in the strike zone,” Kelley said. “You just have to keep them off-balance.”

With Kelley pitching well, the Golden Bucks had to piece together some runs.

In the first inning, Caitlin Breidt hit a one-out single to right, advanced on a passed ball, stole third, and scored on a passed ball. In the second, Katie Hurd hit an infield popup that landed between Hermon’s first baseman and second baseman. Then pinch runner Cassie Wilson advanced on a throwing error, moved to third on a Sarrah Winters groundout and scored on a wild pitch.

The Bucks added more insurance in the fourth when Hurd singled to drive in Sullivan, who had doubled.

“We were pretty aggressive,” Sullivan said of Bucksport’s baserunning. “We put what we’ve been working on [in practice] together today.”

Hurd singled twice and Sullivan added a single.

Jaimie Beers also singled for Hermon.

“For us, we were watching the good pitches and trying to dig ourselves out of a hole,” Kelley said.

GOLDEN BUCKS 3, HAWKS 0

Hermon (7-3) Bucksport (7-3)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Gallant, lf-cf 3 0 0 0 Hall, p 3 0 0

Beers, 3b 3 0 1 0 Breidt, 1b 3 1 0

Barry, ss 3 0 0 0 K. Sullivan, 2b 3 0 0

Kelley, p 3 0 1 0 A. Sullivan, ss 3 1 0

Foye, pr 0 0 0 0 Kay. Allen, rf 3 0 0

Page, c 3 0 0 0 Hurd, c 3 0 2 1

Arnold, 1b 3 0 0 0 Wilson, pr 0 1 0

Cyr, cf 2 0 0 0 Winters, 3b 2 0 0

Colpitts, rf 0 0 0 0 Kat. Allen, cf 2 0 0

Woodard, 2b 2 0 0 0 Lenor, dh 2 0 0

Wharton, rf 1 0 0 0 Hutchins, lf 0 0 0

Veilleux, lf 0 0 0 0

Totals 23 0 2 0 Totals 24 3 6 1

Hermon 000 000 0 – 0

Bucksport 110 100 x – 3

E-Woodard, Page; K. Sullivan; LOB-Hermon 3, Bucksport 3; 2B-Hall, A. Sullivan; SB-Breidt, A. Sullivan

Hermon IP H R ER BB SO

Kelley (L, 7-3) 6 6 3 2 0 8

Bucksport IP H R ER BB SO

Hall (W, 4-2) 7 2 0 0 0 10

WP-Kelley; PB-Page; T-1:13; ATT-50 (est.)