ELLSWORTH – So far this season, the Bucksport softball team has had some trouble scoring runs and stringing together big innings.

The Golden Bucks broke through Thursday afternoon, pushing across four runs in the top of the fifth and riding the pitching of senior Keely Sullivan to a 6-2 Class B victory over Ellsworth at the high school field.

“We hit well in preseason but we’ve struggled a little bit in the regular season,” said Bucks coach Mike Carrier, whose club improves to 2-2.

“We’ve been waiting to break out for a long time.”

Ellsworth slips to 2-1.

Bucksport finally reached Eagles’ starter Ashley Smith in the fifth, working three walks and connecting on two hits. Meagan Harriman got things going with a walk, stole second and scored on Emily Lenor’s sharp single to left which gave Bucksport a 3-2 lead.

After Megan Panaro singled and Sullivan got her to third on a bunt single, Panaro scored on a wild pitch and Lenor scored on Catie Denning’s bases-loaded walk to give the Bucks a three-run cushion.

Sullivan came home on Kori Killinger’s RBI groundout to shallow right to cap the scoring.

“We just have clutch key players who come up with clutch hits at the right time,” said Sullivan, who scattered eight hits, struck out two and walked only one in earning the victory.

Sullivan, who allowed only one extra-base hit in Tasha Manning’s inside-the-park homer in the first, settled down after the Bucks took control but ran into some trouble in the bottom of the seventh.

After getting Maggie Harding to ground out to the circle, Lily Cooper and Manning singled around an error on a ball hit by Sabrina Jellison.

Jen Richter then lined a shot to center that appeared to be ticketed for the gap, but Harriman snared it and doubled Manning off first to end it.

“That was an amazing catch. We’ve got a lot of hustle,” Sullivan said.

Carrier added, “It’s probably going to be three runs scoring at least” if Harriman doesn’t make the play.

Carrier’s young Bucks – five sophomores and one freshman were in the starting lineup – certainly take home a huge confidence builder from this victory.

“Absolutely, Ellsworth’s going to win a lot of games,” Carrier said. “As far as our confidence level it just went from about 20 percent to 80 percent.”

Knowing Smith was having trouble finding the strike zone on a consistent basis – she walked four and drew five three-ball counts – Bucksport didn’t get overaggressive and showed solid plate discipline.

“As a pitcher I know it’s frustrating to settle down after throwing a lot of balls,” Sullivan said. “We had a good eye, for the most part settled in when up to bat.”

Lenor and Sullivan were the Bucks’ repeat hitters. Sullivan doubled and scored on Rachelle Pelletier’s RBI single in the fourth while Lenor tripled and stole home on a double steal in the first.

Ellsworth’s Cooper was 4-for-4 with four singles and a run scored while Smith recorded 10 strikeouts.

rmclaughlin@bangordailynews.net

990-8193

GOLDEN BUCKS 6, EAGLES 2

Bucksport (2-2) Ellsworth (2-1)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Harriman, cf 2 1 0 0 Cooper, rf 4 1 0

Bridges, ph 0 0 0 0 Jellison, cf 4 0 0

Lenor, c 4 2 1 1 Manning, 1b-3b 4 1 1

Panaro, lf 3 1 1 0 Richter, c 4 0 0

Sullivan, p 3 2 2 0 Smith, p 3 0 0

Denning, ss 2 0 0 1 Blanchard, lf 3 0 0

Sutherland, 1b 3 0 1 0 Sealey, ss 3 0

Pelletier, 3b 2 0 1 1 Homich, 2b 1 0

Bass, ph 1 0 0 0 Pierre, 2b 1 0 0

Killinger, rf 4 0 0 1 Arkin, 3b 2 0

Benson, 2b 4 0 0 0 Harding, 1b 1 0 0

Totals 28 6 6 4 Totals 30 2 8 1

Bucksport 100 140 0 – 6

Ellsworth 101 000 0 – 2

E-Pelletier, Benson, Killinger, Panaro; Pierre; LOB-Bucksport 8, Ellsworth 7; 2B-Sullivan; 3B-Lenor; HR-Manning; DP-Bucksport 1; SB-Lenor, Sullivan, Pelletier, Harriman

Bucksport IP H R ER BB SO

Sullivan 7 8 2 2 1 2

Ellsworth IP H R ER BB SO

Smith 7 6 6 4 4 10

WP-Smith; PB-Lenor; Richter 2; T-1:45; ATT-50 (est.)