OLD ORCHARD BEACH — The visiting Traip Academy softball team’s bats came to life in the fourth inning on Friday as the Rangers cruised to a 12-2 win over Old Orchard Beach.

Tied 2-2 after three innings, the Rangers’ bats took off as Traip would score 10 runs in the final four innings.

Traip coach Chris Andrews was not surprised by his team’s slow offensive start.

“It usually takes us a while to get things going, one, two, three innings. We had that big (fourth) inning and the timing started and then it was boom, boom, boom. As soon as we do it, it takes off … we have good bats,” said Andrews.

Traip got on the board early, thanks to an RBI triple from Reilly Eddy and an RBI single from Cecelia Driscoll in the first inning. OOB responded in the bottom half of the inning, tying the score at 2-2 off a two-run triple from Tiffany Leclair.

The game was quiet until the fourth inning when Traip scored four runs. Kiara Perez hit an RBI triple while Eddy added an RBI double. Lynne Moore would also lay down a sacrifice bunt to score a run while Nikki Landry also had a sacrifice groundout to push the lead to 6-2.

Sierra O’Brien later hit an RBI single in the sixth, giving the Rangers a 7-2 lead heading into the seventh inning where Traip would add its final five runs.

In the seventh inning, Jess MacNeill and Perez would hit back-to-back RBI singles, followed by a two-run double from Eddy. Brianna Lamoureux would later lay down a sacrifice bunt to add the 12th run.

Eddy impressed in the circle for the Rangers, pitching all seven innings and allowing two runs on seven hits, while collecting 10 strikeouts.

“She’s our No. 1 pitcher, she’s gone seven innings every game. She’s tough, that’s why she is one of the captains … she just digs in and does what she needs to do to get the girls out,” said Andrews. “If one pitch isn’t working, she knows it and won’t throw it but if a pitch is working it’s right there.”

OOB falls to 0-13 on the season, but coach Amanda Ruel has seen steady progress in the program.

“This is probably one of the best Old Orchard Beach teams we have had in years. We took the program and really have built it up so we’re competitive now,” said Ruel.

Although the Seagulls allowed 12 runs in total, nine came in two innings. Ruel was happy to see her team play solid for much of the game.

“I think we need to eliminate those bad innings, but I’m thankful it’s been only one or two bad innings and not a whole game,” said Ruel.

Morgan Howlett-Brown took the circle for the Seagulls, pitching all seven innings and collecting four strikeouts along the way. Despite the high run total, Howlett- Brown was never shaken.

“She’s mentally tough. Sometimes she feels down and out, but she always pulls through and pulls it out. The past couple of games she’s been phenomenal and today she was spot on with those strikes, inside and outside,” said Ruel.

Ruel was also happy with her team’s hard hitting in the loss.

“We had a great batting practice yesterday with a pitching machine that was donated to us. We practiced for two hours and that helped tremendously. We put some balls in the field that we haven’t been able to all season,” said Ruel.

Traip improves to 7-6 on the season, and with the playoffs approaching, Andrews hopes the Rangers continue to stay consistent.

“It’s just about finishing strong. The last five or so games we have been solid (throughout the game), we have dropped our errors and we have been finishing strong. We have been facing some tough teams and the girls have been battling hard,” said Andrews.

Although the Seagulls will not play in the postseason, hopes are high for the future of the program.

“We need to keep fighting … we need to continue to work hard in season and off season and I definitely see us down the road making the playoffs,” said Ruel.

— 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.