BANGOR – Sometimes, you’ve got to score runs any way you can.

The John Bapst softball team cashed in on its best opportunity Thursday, and its pitching did the rest.

The Crusaders scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth while Laura Jordan and Devin Richard combined on a four-hitter in a 2-1 victory over Ellsworth in a Class B matchup at Union Street Complex.

While the 8-6 Crusaders couldn’t string together any big innings against Ellsworth ace Ashley Smith, who pitched a four-hitter, they took advantage of some spotty defense in the fourth.

After Bapst spotted the 10-4 Eagles a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, Kacy Harvey came up with runners on second and third with one down in the fourth and looped a fly to shallow left that was misplayed and rolled to the fence. Two runs scored, giving Jordan and Richard all the support they’d need.

“I kept telling them even though we weren’t getting hits or scoring runs that it’s going to come,” said Bapst coach Bill Baker, whose club avenged an earlier loss to the Eagles.

“Eventually we got a couple of big hits and scored a couple of runs and it all worked out for us in the end.”

Sheila Toomey had reached on an error to lead off the inning, but was erased on a fielders’ choice by Richard, who later moved to third on Umphrey’s double.

Jordan, who struck out six and walked five while surrendering one run on four hits in six-plus innings, was the beneficiary of a strong Crusader defense that didn’t commit an error on the afternoon.

“Mostly my credit would have to go to my defense. They were behind me the entire time,” said Jordan.

In the seventh, after Jordan walked Lily Cooper to open the inning, Richard came on and got the next three batters to ground out, strike out and pop up, respectively, to end the game.

“I was nervous because I hadn’t warmed up since the beginning of the game,” said Richard, who earned her fourth save of the season.

Perhaps the most impressive out of the three was the second, as Richard fanned Anna Seavey on a high fastball with the tying run at third.

“That was a good pitch because she usually is a good hitter,” Richard said.

With the season winding down and with the Eagles sitting right behind the Crusaders in the latest Heal Point standings, the victory could prove crucial.

“Well, it’s going to give us a lot of momentum because we’re going to have more confidence now,” said infielder Whitney Sinclair.

Perhaps an even bigger statistic that doesn’t usually show up is the fact only two Crusaders struck out.

“Today we only had two strikeouts, we all got the ball in play,” said Sinclair. “Now that we’re getting the ball in play our big hits are going to start coming along.”

Sabrina Jellison had a 2-for-4 day for Ellsworth, singling in a run in the third and doubling in the fifth.

Smith and Maggie Harding also singled.

rmclaughlin@bangordailynews.net

990-8193

CRUSADERS 2, EAGLES 1

Ellsworth (10-4) John Bapst (8-6)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Seavey, ss 4 0 0 0 Sinclair, 2b 3 0 0

Jellison, cf 4 0 2 1 Huckestein, dh 2 0 0

Manning, 3b 3 0 0 0 Perkins, ph 1 0 0

Richter, c 2 0 0 0 Laferriere, 1b 3 0 0

Smith, p 2 0 1 0 Toomey, c 3 0 0

Homich, dh 3 0 0 0 Richard, cf-p 3 1 0

Peer, 2b 2 0 0 0 Umphrey, lf 2 1 0

Harding, 1b 2 0 1 0 Ka. Harvey, ss 2 0 0

Cooper, rf 2 1 0 0 Gilmore, rf 2 0 0

Blanchard, lf 0 0 0 0 Ky. Harvey, 3b 2 0

Totals 24 1 4 1 Totals 23 2 4 0

Ellsworth 001 000 0 – 1

John Bapst 000 200 x – 2

E-Harding, Blanchard; LOB-Ellsworth 7, John Bapst 3; 2B-Jellison; Umphrey; S-Manning, Cooper, Homich; SB-Peer, Harding; Harvey

Ellsworth IP H R ER BB SO

Smith (L, 10-4) 6 4 2 0 0 3

John Bapst IP H R ER BB SO

Jordan (W, 4-3) 6 4 1 1 5 6

Richard (S, 4) 1 0 0 0 0 1

Jordan pitched to one batter in the 7th

WP-Jordan; PB-Toomey; T-1:20; ATT-70 (est.)