Portland had only two hits off Falmouth left-hander Reece Armitage through five innings in a scoreless game. The Bulldogs, however, had their ace reliever on the mound and the confidence gained from recent late-inning comebacks.

After rallying in the fifth inning in the regional quarterfinals, Portland broke this one open in the sixth.

No. 7 hitter Jack Nichols drove home two runs with a single to right and Zach Fortin dumped a base hit down the line in left to score another as No. 1 Portland beat No. 4 Falmouth 4-0 in the Western A baseball semifinals Saturday at Hadlock Field.

The Bulldogs (14-4) will play No. 3 South Portland (14-4) for the regional title Wednesday at St. Joseph’s College.

Jake Knop gave Portland a 1-0 lead when he led off the sixth with a single and eventually scored on a fielder’s choice. Then Nichols and Fortin did their damage.

Ryan Ruhlin came on in relief of starter Dan Marzilli with one out in the six and gave up a single, but struck out the next two batters.

Portland turned a double play in the top of the seventh before Colin Coyne doubled to left and Robbie Armitage singled. Ruhlin got the final out on a fly ball to right to earn his seventh win of the season.

“Their pitcher threw great,” said Portland Coach Mike Rutherford. “With Ryan Ruhlin on the mound, the kids feel they just have to get one or two runs to win. He’s not overpowering, but he comes right at hitters. We play solid defense and don’t beat ourselves.”

Falmouth (11-7) outhit the Bulldogs 10-6 but couldn’t string any hits together.

“If you had told me that we would get 10 hits and make no errors, I would have said we’re going to win,” said Falmouth Coach Kevin Winship. “We couldn’t get any momentum. In each of the first three innings, our hit came with two outs. Portland is solid defensively. We started four sophomores and a freshman. I’m really proud of our guys.”

Armitage, one of the sophomores, struck out five of the first batters he faced, and finished with nine strikeouts.

Marzilli also pitched well. He gave up a hit in both the first and the second, then two in the third. He retired the side in order in the fourth, then allowed a one-out single in the sixth to Connor MacDowell and gave way to Ruhlin.

“We have a lot of trust in each other,” said Ruhlin, a senior, explaining his team’s ability to rally. “We have a lot of confidence that we can get it done.”

SOUTH BERWICK — The first six innings in the Western Class A baseball semifinal flew by with second-seeded Marshwood leading third-ranked South Portland, 4-1.

Then came the wild seventh inning, with a total of 12 runs, and South Portland holding on for a 9-8 victory Saturday.

With the bases loaded and one out, South Portland reliever Griffin Kelley preserved the one-run lead by retiring the last two batters on a strikeout and grounder.

“I was feeling (the pressure),” Kelly said. “I usually do when I come out of the pen. This time it was to the max.”

South Portland (14-4) will meet top-ranked Portland (14-4) in the final Wednesday at St. Joseph’s College in Standish.

The Red Riots beat Portland 4-0 earlier this year on a one-hitter by left-hander Henry Curran, who will be available Wednesday.

With Curran not available Saturday, the Red Riots started Sam Troiano, who held Marshwood to three runs on five hits over four-plus innings.

“Sam did a great job,” South Portland Coach Mike Owens said. “He’s only a sophomore and this is his first playoff experience.”

Brad Sowerby relieved for two innings. Kelley got the last three outs.

Zach Quintal of Marshwood allowed seven hits and three walks through six innings, but one run.

“Zach Quintal left it all on the field today and that’s what you’re supposed to do when you’re a senior,” Coach Bryant Lausberg said.

The Hawks scored two in the fourth (RBI singles by Zack Doyon and Cole McDaniel) and two in the fifth (Jake Lebel’s two-run single).

South Portland threatened often but managed one run on Anthony Degifico’s single in the fifth.

“We have had a lot of chances all year, but haven’t seemed to get that clutch two-out hit,” Owens said. “Then it all seemed to happen in one inning.”

South Portland began the seventh with singles by Matt Beecher and Degifico, chasing Quintal.

A walk loaded the bases, bringing Jacob Brown to the plate.

“I’ve been in that situation several times during the year and I swung at bad pitches every time,” Brown said.

This time he swatted a fastball to deep left for a two-run double, closing the score to 4-3.

Ben Conti singled in the tying run, then stole second to put runners on second and third. Both Brown and Conti scored on a wild pitch for a 6-4 lead.

A single (Sam Solomon), a walk and two errors brought in three more runs. Marshwood (14-4) came to bat trailing 9-4.

A Zach Hodges single and two walks loaded the bases for Lebel’s single. A hit batter brought in another run and Kelley relieved. He sandwiched RBI walks around a strikeout, keeping the Red Riots up 9-8, but with the bases still loaded. Then he got the last two batters.

“He didn’t get rattled and made the pitches when he had to,” Owens said.

CAPE ELIZABETH – Tim Brigham belted a two-run homer in the third inning to start the top-ranked Capers (13-5) on their way to a 6-2 win over No. 5 Lincoln Academy (8-10) in a Western Class B semifinal at Cape Elizabeth.

Mike Best capped a four-run fourth inning with a two-out, two-run single that increased the lead to 6-1.

Marshall Peterson (8-1) and Nate Ingalls combined on a five-hitter for the Capers, who will face No. 3 Greely in the regional final Tuesday at St. Joseph’s College.

ST. DOMINIC 3, MARANACOOK 0: Mitch Lorenz tossed a two-hitter as No. 8 St. Dominic (14-5) blanked No. 5 Maranacook (10-8) in a Western Class C semifinal in Readfield.

Lorenz struck out six and walked three for the Saints, who will face No. 2 Winthrop in the regional final Wednesday at St. Joseph’s College.

Cam Labrie, Justin Keaney and Mike Bryant each drove in a run.

Cam Brochu and Vinnie Birtwell had the hits for Maranacook.