Tied up 1-1 with Amherst heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, the Belchertown baseball team grabbed two key runs to jump ahead by two – a lead they would keep the rest of the way.

Behind two hits – their only two of the afternoon – and an RBI from Ryan Gould, the Orioles defeated the ‘Canes 3-1 in Belchertown on Friday in a Hampshire County clash.

Ian McDonald pitched seven stellar innings for Belchertown, striking out six and walking only one while surrendering one hit. On the other side, Amherst’s Thatcher Rudnik threw six strong innings as well, giving up three runs (one earned) on two hits and six strikeouts. Aryeh Rubinstein recorded the lone hit for the visitors.

Agawam 8, Holyoke 0 — The Purple Knights were held to just one hit throughout the contest, coming off the bat of Martin Phillips.

Theo Marion tossed five innings on the bump, relieved by Darwin Jimenez for an inning who allowed no runs and no hits.

Easthampton 5, Ludlow 2 — Seven different Eagles players reached base in the win, with Anthony Incampo, Jason Sigda, Topher Reardon, Jake Kostek and Bixby all coming around to score.

Incampo and Reardon split duties on the mound in the Easthampton win.

Softball

Easthampton 4, Longmeadow 1 — Four second-inning runs and a gem from Rosie Follet propelled the Eagles to an independent win on Friday afernoon.

McKenzie McCarthy went 3-for-3, Sophia Faginski added a pair of hits and Kayley Downie (two RBIs) and Ana Growhoski (RBI) drove in crucial runs in that second frame. Follet struck out seven and allowed just the one run in the win in the circle.

Westfield 3, Hampshire 2 (10) — CC Thayer cranked a clutch two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extras, but the Bombers scored one in the top of the 10th and hung on to beat Hampshire.

Ryanne Dubay pitched all 10 innings in a terrific effort in the circle, striking out seven and allowing three runs.

South Hadley 10, West Springfield 1 — A massive seven-run first inning helped the Tigers to an insurmountable lead in a decisive league win on Friday.

Ara Powers knocked three hits and two RBIs, Ella Schaeffer recorded two base knocks and an RBI and Seville Kennedy hit and RBI single for South Hadley. Schaeffer struck out 15 in the circle.

Belchertown 19, Putnam 1 (5) — Ten runs in the fourth pulled the Orioles way ahead in a five-inning drubbing of the Beavers on Friday.

Emily Waller (three), Laura Cote (two) and Olivia Lafeyette (two) each tallied multiple hits, with Waller, Lafeyette and Julie Cozine driving in three runs apiece. Lafeyette struck out four in a complete game in the circle.

Boys lacrosse

Northampton 15, Chicopee Comp 6 — Minti Peterson’s double hat trick matched the amount of goals Chicopee Comp scored, and Liam Parr (three goals) and Keller Mahoney (two goals, two assists) put the Blue Devils over the top.

Seven Northampton players scored in the win. Henry Fallon stopped 15 shots in the cage.

Girls lacrosse

Northampton 17, South Hadley 9 — Imanni Power-Greene netted six goals for the Blue Devils, and Teagan McDonald was right behind with five of her own in a huge Northampton win.

South Hadley’s Raquel Losty found the back of the net a team-high four times while Emily Piligan (two) and Eliana Britton (two) combined for four.

Belchertown 13, Amherst 8 — The Orioles’ offense brought their best stuff on Friday, getting the best of the ‘Canes to improve to 5-5. Belchertown hosts Wahconah on May 6 at 4 p.m.

With the loss, Amherst drops to 9-1 – its first loss of the season. The Hurricanes play Sunday against McCann Tech at 10:45 a.m.

Boys tennis

Northampton 4, Amherst 1 — Miles Jeffries got the better of Reilly Fowles at first singles in a battle of western Mass. heavyweights, winning 6-2, 1-6, 6-2 for the ‘Canes only win of the day.

Galen Fowles earned a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 2 singles, and Durrell Patrick won by the same score at third singles. Oliver Levine and Reed O’Connor (6-0, 6-1) and Eli Wool and Kaz Sugihara (6-4, 6-0) helped the Blue Devils sweep doubles matches.

Belchertown 5, Mount Greylock 0 — It was smooth sailing for the Orioles on Friday, as they swept the Mounties in dominant fashion.

Belchertown is back in action Monday at 4 p.m. against Minnechaug.

Girls tennis

Belchertown 5, Central 0 — Ava Shea (first singles, 6-0, 6-0), Anna Stamp (second singles, 6-1, 6-0) and Amanda Murray (third singles, 6-1, 6-2) helped the Orioles to victory on Friday.

Mia Corish and Emalee Chaisson cruised 6-0, 6-0 at first singles and Gianna Picardi and Allie Randall notched a 6-1, 6-0 victory at No. 2 doubles.

Boys volleyball

Granby 3, East Longmeadow 2 — A five-set thriller went to the Rams on Friday, as they worked around 22 kills from East Longmeadow star Ben Mannheim.

Set scores were 16-25, 25-17, 25-23, 23-25, 15-11.

Granby is now 14-1 this season, and hosts Holyoke on Monday at 6:15 p.m.

Late Thursday results

Boys tennis

Minnechaug 3, Amherst 2 — Things looked promising for the ‘Canes after they picked up two wins at first and second singles, but the Falcons took care of business elsewhere to hand Amherst the loss. Miles Jeffries was dominant in a 6-2, 6-1 showing at No. 1 singles, while Brock Waldman triumphed 7-5, 6-2 at No. 2.

 Girls tennis

Holyoke 3, Central 2 — The Purple Knights picked up their first win of the spring in a close on over Central on Thursday.

Kelsey Brainard and Lily Lawrence both enjoyed decisive wins at second and third singles. Brainard notched a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 2 while Lawrence won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3. Ava Tellier and Gracie Chesmore picked up a 6-1, 6-1 win at first doubles to help Holyoke to victory.

Boys lacrosse

South Hadley 16, Amherst 11 — Skyler Ferro scored five goals and added an assist on Thursday, while Sawyer Ferro notched two goals and two assists of his own.

Taikoda Wilson (two), Josh Goodhind and Tri Nguyen each scored as well for Amherst and Jason Kim saved 13 shots in the cage. South Hadley stats were included in Thursday’s round up/Friday’s paper.

Youth sports

Baseball

Amherst Red Sox 7, Amherst Orioles 2 — Jonah Sommers, Sam Adams-Margotta and Johnny Siano combined to pitch  six innings, allowing six hits and striking out 13 for the Sox. At the plate, Dakota Clarke, Paxton Kazmi and Isaac Lawrence-Slavas each contributed key hits in a fifth-inning rally. Julian Park tallied three hits.

For the Orioles, Liam Soares ended a Red Sox rally with a key  middle relief performance. At the plate, Walker Austin led the way with a double and a triple, along with Drew Carvel's two hits.