WINTHROP — According to Winthrop softball coach Chuck Gurney, pitcher Layne Audet was throwing 51 mph in the first inning. In the seventh inning, the radar showed the same.

Audet used that speed to strike out 10 Spruce Mountain batters en route to a 4-1 win over the Phoenix in a pivotal matchup that had playoff implications for both teams.

“We had four games in five days, so we needed this one,” Gurney said. “We were sitting in 10th (Friday) and we knew there were a lot of Heal points to be got. We put emphasis on it and said we had to stay hungry all game long and play very well.”

Winthrop improves to 4-3, while Spruce Mountain falls to 5-2.

MONMOUTH 17, DIRIGO 3: Emily Chasse had two singles and four RBIs as the Mustangs rolled to the Mountain Valley Conference victory in Rumford.

Winning pitcher Mariah Herr also had two singles for Monmouth (5-3) while Haylee Langlois had two RBIs.

Dirigo dropped to 2-6.

OAK HILL 16, WISCASSET 0, 5 INN.: Mahala Smith hit a home run and drove in three runs as the Raiders rolled to the MVC win in Wales.

Abby Nadeau added a triple, one of three on the day for Oak Hill (7-1), while also collecting three RBIs.

Wiscasset fell to 2-8.

MESSALONSKEE 16, BRUNSWICK 0, 5 INN.: The Eagles started off with nine runs in the first inning and were off to the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference win in Oakland.

Taylor Baker had a pair of hits for Messalonskee (8-2), and Taylor Berner added two hits.

HAMPDEN 9, CONY 6: Brooklynn Scott homered and doubled as the Broncos grabbed the KVAC A win in Augusta.

Hampden (3-6) scored four runs in the first and four more in the sixth en route to the win. Scott rove in two runs.

Carly Lettre had two hits, including a double, for Cony (2-7). Gabby McGuire and Cari Hopkins each added singles.

BASEBALL

MESSALONSKEE 8, BRUNSWICK 2: Ben Hellen had three hits, drove in two runs and scored two more to lead the Eagles to the KVAC win in Oakland.

Tyler Lewis chipped in with two hits and two runs scored for Messalonskee (5-5). Parker Poulin had a single and an RBI.

Brunswick dropped to 3-8.

HAMPDEN 4, CONY 1: Nick Lorenzo three a three-hitter to lead the Broncos to the KVAC A win in Augusta.

Lorenzo had a pair of his for Hampden (7-2), while Derek Gendreau had a single and a triple for the Broncos.

Mike Levesque hit two singles for Cony (2-7).

SPRUCE MOUNTAIN 11, WINTHROP 6: The Phoenix used big innings and a 10-hit attack to post the MVC victory in Winthrop.

Spruce Mountain (4-4) scored three runs in the second and four in both the third and fourth innings.

Jackson Ladd had a triple as part of a three-hit day for Winthrop (4-4), while Ryan Baird added a double and two singles.

BOYS LACROSSE

CHEVERUS 17, MESSALONSKEE 16: Max Coffin scored five goals and Colby Anton and Chris St. John had four apiece to lift the Stags (2-5) to the victory in Portland.

Dawson Charles had five goals for the Eagles (4-2), while Austin Pelletier and Josh Languet had four apiece. Alden Balboni scored three goals and Wade Carter made 10 saves.