BIDDEFORD — With a 3-0 lead and starter Matt Rutherford sailing along, it looked like Fayette-Staples of Saco was on its way to a comfortable victory over Biddeford Savings on Tuesday night at St. Louis Field.

But in a game befitting the rivalry, it was never going to be that easy.

Biddeford Savings, with one hit through the first five innings, came alive in a big way in the sixth, cracking four hits and benefitting from a crucial Fayette-Staples error to score three times and knot things up.

It could have been even more, but reliever Drew Gelinas buckled down to strike out two Biddeford batters with the bases loaded to preserve the tie. Fayette-Staples went on to score three times in the eighth to come away with a hard-fought 6-3 victory in an Zone 5 American Legion baseball contest.

“I think they felt complacent up 3-0 and the way the game was going, and they took some innings off and Biddeford made us pay for it,” Fayette-Staples coach Ray Petit said. “But they did a great job not losing focus. A lot of guys would have just folded the tent there but they did a good job of staying in the game, battling back and getting it done.”

After looking lifeless through the first five innings, Biddeford Savings coach Keith Leblanc said he was happy with the way his lineup woke up in the sixth, although he was still ruing those two strikeouts with the bases loaded.

“We talk all the time about opportunities, and with guys on base you’ve got to make the most your opportunities,” Leblanc said. “A couple strikeouts with guys on base really hurts. If you put the ball in play, you put the pressure on the defense and who knows, you might get a run across.”

Both Rutherford and Patrick Wilson rolled through the first three innings, allowing one base runner apiece, but Fayette-Staples (7-3) got to Wilson for two in the fourth.

Ben Lambert started things with a double to right, which Fallon followed with a double to deep left that Taylor Reuillard couldn’t get his glove on. Lambert was forced to hold on Fallon’s hit, but was soon after brought home by a Jeff Gelinas single. Gelinas then played a starring role in the second run, drawing a throw as he stole second that allowed Fallon to score from third to make it 2-0.

Fallon went on to make it 3-0 in a loud way in the sixth, hammering a Wilson fastball over the left field fence after working the count to 2-0.

“Fallon had him 2-0 and I think Patrick just made a mistake there,” Petit said. “He might have gotten the ball where he didn’t want to throw it because Pat wouldn’t serve a ball up like that 2-0. He’s too good of a pitcher, so he must have missed his spot.

“You don’t want to do that with Fallon because he’s a strong kid and he made him pay for it.”

Fallon’s blast looked to have been the icing on the cake for Fayette-Staples, but the Biddeford Savings (6-6) rally started in the bottom half of the inning when nine-hole hitter Dominick Day grounded a ball off the third base bag and into left for a double.

“Three runs isn’t a lot but it did feel like more than that because their pitcher was rolling,” Leblanc said. “You get the leadoff guy on in an inning, you start to get some momentum and guys pick themselves up a little bit.”

It had that effect, as Corey Creeger followed with a single and Kerry Crepeau a sacrifice fly to score Day.

Rutherford looked to have gotten the second out a batter later when Reuillard popped one high into the air, but it came down to Earth just past the pitcher’s mound as the Fayette-Staples infielders failed to call for the ball.

“Rutherford pitched great. He only threw 68 pitches but he had some bad breaks,” Petit said. “If we catch that pop-up it’s probably a different game.”

Instead, Corey Brown followed with a single that scored Creeger. Petit pulled Rutherford in favor of Drew Gelinas, but Casey Twomey singled to bring home Reuillard, and Wilson walked to load the bases.

That’s when Gelinas drew the line in the sand, striking out both Matt Langevin and Alix Chandler to end the inning.

“Drew came in and battled and did a nice job,” Petit said. “He really beared down.”

Fayette-Staples had a chance to retake the lead in the seventh when it got runners to first and third with two outs, but Twomey ”“ pitching in relief of Wilson ”“ was able to jam Fallon and get him to pop out to end the threat.

In the eighth, however, Twomey lost his command for a few moments and it cost him. After Kip Richard walked and Caleb Burpee was hit by a pitch, Cam Jackman knocked in Richard with a single and Ryder Kenney plated Burpee and Jackman with another single to put Fayette up 6-3.

Gelinas worked a scoreless bottom half of the inning to close out the victory.

Both teams will be back in action at 5:45 p.m. Thursday, with Fayette-Staples heading to Sanford for a game with Bonanza and Biddeford Savings traveling to Marshwood to take on Staples Crossing.

— Staff Writer Cameron Dunbar can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 323.