LINCOLN – The Ellsworth High softball team knows how to scrape together runs.

The Eagles managed to record just three hits and still come away with a 3-2 victory over Mattanawcook Wednesday afternoon at the high school field.

The teams played most of the game in a light rain that made conditions slippery. Pitchers Catie Cravens of Ellsworth and Denielle Nicastro of Mattanawcook occasionally asked for dry balls or tried to wipe off moisture on their uniforms.

The Eagles weren’t able to get much going offensively, but flawless defense and an eight-strikeout performance from Cravens were enough for their 15th win, which is their most in at least five years.

“It’s all come together,” said coach Ray Silsby, who is in his fifth season. “They all really want it. At the beginning of the season we talked about being more cerebral, thinking more, using our heads, instead of just their physical abilities. And they’re doing it.”

Courtesy runner Tacy Mullins, a regular replacement for catcher Tessa Rockwood, scored two runs.

“She did a good job,” said Cravens, who also regularly gets a courtesy runner. “They’ve been amazing for us. I know they can get around the bases faster than I can.”

Mullins got aboard in the second after Rockwood reached on an error, and the runner moved on a walk, a Tasha Manning single and another error. Rockwood singled in the third and Mullins took advantage of wild pitches and passed balls to score the eventual game-winning run.

“We did well,” Silsby said. “We didn’t seem to be on our game today for whatever reason. Mattanawcook did a good job. They made us fight.”

Cravens relied on her fastball most of the game. She recorded a key strikeout in the fifth inning with Lynx runners on first and second.

“With everything being so wet it was tough to get movement on all the balls,” she said. “Everything has to be a fastball which is what I was throwing the majority of the game, but towards the end it started to get better. The curve started to work.”

MA had already scored a run in that inning when Sarah French singled to score Jessica Fortin, who led off with a single.

Mattanawcook’s Nicastro fanned nine and walked five in the loss, limiting Ellsworth’s top four batters to a combined 1-for-12.

“We just stuck with the fastball and placed it. We tried a couple of changeups but they weren’t working,” said Nicastro.

“Basically their whole lineup has power so we were working on placement,” Nicastro added. “My catcher [Bree Hanscom] was smart enough to read them and know to go inside or outside.”

Ellsworth had a run taken away in the seventh. Maggie Seavey launched a two-out triple to left-center and scored on an error, but MA coach Dean Libbey appealed, claiming that Seavey didn’t touch second base. Seavey was called out.

Seavey, the first baseman, had a scary moment when she tracked a fly ball into foul territory and hit the chain-link fence. She fell to the ground and was down for a minute or two, but got up and went right back to first base.

Michelle Paul singled twice for the Lynx.

Immediately after the game, Silsby confronted home plate umpire Tom Shepher over an undisclosed incident that occurred during the game. Silsby was restrained and eventually left the field. Silsby and Shepher declined to comment about the incident.

EAGLES 3, LYNX 2

Ellsworth (15-1) Mattanawcook (8-8)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Miller, rf 3 0 0 0 Paul, ss 3 0 0

Jellison, cf 4 0 0 0 Bre. Hanscom, c 3 0 0

Seavey, ss 3 0 1 0 Pelkey, cf 3 0 0

Cravens, p 2 0 0 0 Burleigh, 1b 2 1 0

Homich, pr 0 0 0 0 Libbey, lf 3 0 0

Rockwood, c 3 0 1 0 West, dh 3 0 0

Mullins, pr 0 2 0 0 Fortin, 3b 3 0 1

Richter, 2b 1 1 0 0 Farrell, pr 0 1 0

Manning, 3b 3 0 1 0 Nesin, rf 1 0 0

Harding, 1b 2 0 0 0 French, rf 2 0 0

Peer, lf 3 0 0 0 L. Nicastro, 2b 3 0 0

Totals 24 3 3 0 Totals 26 2 5 1

Ellsworth 021 000 0 – 3

Mattanawcook 010 010 0 – 2

E-Paul 2; LOB-Ellsworth 6, Mattanawcook 4; SB-Seavey, Miller, Harding; Paul, Burleigh

Ellsworth IP H R ER BB SO

Cravens (W, 12-1) 7 5 1 1 1 8

Mattanawcook IP H R ER BB SO

D. Nicastro (L, 8-8) 7 3 3 1 5 9

WP-D. Nicastro 3; PB-Rockwood; Bre. Hanscom; T-1:35; ATT-30 (est.)