PORTLAND — Despite taking an early lead, the Biddeford baseball team fell to host Portland Thursday afternoon 4-3 .

Thanks to a deep single to left field from Jacob Knop, Camren King scored and the Bulldogs walked off in the final inning with the victory.

Knop was happy to pull his weight in the Bulldogs’ win.

“I had a pretty bad game to start but I was just trying to do something to contribute … I just got up there and swung,” said Knop. “I’ve never faced (Jason Vadnais) before but I was watching him pitch and I was looking fastball. I was just looking for something to drive and get the runner in.”

The Tigers’ bats took off in the first inning, beginning with a leadoff single from Kerry Crepeau. Brady Crepeau followed up in the next at bat with a double to score Kerry to give Biddeford the quick 1-0 lead.

Joey Curit later hit an RBI single in the first to give Biddeford a 2-0 advantage.

Brady Crepeau also had a solid performance starting on the hill for the Tigers. In six innings pitched, Brady Crepeau allowed six hits and three runs while striking out two.

Portland managed to tie the score in the fourth inning thanks to an RBI triple from Nicholas Archambault along with an RBI single from Jack Nichols.

Biddeford retook the lead in the sixth inning when Colin Lavigne scored on a passed ball.

The Tigers hoped to sustain the 3-2 lead, however in the next half inning the Bulldogs answered.

Archambault lead off the bottom of the sixth for the Bulldogs by getting an infield hit. He then stole second base and scored off a single to right field from Joseph Fusco to tie the score heading into the final inning.

After the Tigers went down 1-2-3 in the top half of the seventh, it was Portland’s turn to answer.

Thomas Joyce led off the seventh by hitting a right field double. It was then that King was called to pinch run … and it paid off when he advanced to third on a passed ball and home on Knop’s single.

Portland coach Michael Rutherford believed his team’s confidence was the difference.

“I think you saw it last year, the team knows they’re going to have a big inning. They have to realize with a veteran team that they’ve done it before. I wish we won by more than one but they know how to win those games. The kids really believe that until that last out they have a chance to win,” said Rutherford.

Rutherford was impressed by Biddeford’s fight, and sees the Tigers as a constant threat to win games.

“(Biddeford) is a scrappy team, they get at you at put good wood on the ball. In my 18 years, I think I have a losing record against them. There’s something about them,” said Rutherford. “They don’t strike out, they put the ball in play, they’re well coached, they have great fundamentals and they think they can win. In every sport they come into the game thinking they’re better than you. Not with a bad attitude – they’re just a scrappy team. Give them credit, they should have won that game.”

Daniel Marzilli started the game on the mound for the Bulldogs, pitching 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and striking out two.

— Sports Staff Writer Alex Sponseller can be reached at sports@journaltribune.com or at 282-1535 ext. 323. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.