GARDINER — Gardiner scored five runs in the fifth inning en route to an 11-7 win against Maranacook in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class B softball opener for both teams Wednesday.

Gardiner had 16 hits while Maranacook finished with 15. Taylor Banister led the winners with two singles, a double and a triple while teammates Kristal Smith and Lilly Chepke each singled twice and doubled. For Maranacook, Sarah Boynton and Amber Ridlo each singled twice and doubled while Ashley Belanger added a single and double.

Smith was the winning pitcher, going five innings, fanning eight without a walk. Brittany Rollins pitched the last two innings, escaping a jam in the seventh with a pair of strikeouts.

Cony 25, Lewiston 1, 5 innings: The Rams banged out 23 hits, nine of them for extra bases, in topping the Blue Devils in their KVAC A season opener. Senior Nicole Rugan singled four times and doubled to lead the winners. Arika Brochu singled twice and hit a two-run homer while Molly and Maggie Russell and Alyssa Brochu each singled and tripled.

Winning pitcher Emily Soule doubled twice and allowed Lewiston’s lone hit before giving way to Arika Brochu, who struck out all six batters she faced.

Erskine 7, Edward Little 0: The Eagles scored all of their runs in the top of the the sixth inning to break open a scoreless game and earn the KVAC A win in Auburn.

Edward Little (0-1) loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth inning, but did not score. Meryl Bond led off the Erskine sixth with a triple, and the Eagles (1-0) banged out six more hits in the inning.

Bond also doubled, and Alison Gauvin and Mikhaela Helm each singled twice for Erskine. Alyssa Gartley pitched a five-hit shutout, striking out six.

Leavitt 6, Oak Hill 2: Annie Castongouay had two singles as the Hornets won the KVAC B opener for both teams in Wales.

Adrianna Newton earned the win, allowing two runs on three hits, while striking out eight for Leavitt.

Sadie Goulet struck out four for Oak Hill.

Baseball

Messalonskee 9, Brewer 1: Reid Nutter pitched five innings, allowing one run while striking out four and walking four as the Eagles won the KVAC A game in Oakland.

Travis St. Pierre drove in three runs for Messalonskee, while Sam Dexter had a double, a single and an RBI. Zach Mathieu added two singles and an RBI while Devin Warren had two singles.

Edward Little 3, Erskine 1: The Eddies scored all their runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to earn the KVAC a win in Auburn.

Josh Delong was hit by a pitch and stole second base. Nate Blais then hit an RBI double and Sean Ford followed with an RBI single to make it 2-1. Corey Henderson then finished the scoring with an RBI single. Luc Farrago pitched a complete game, allowing three hits while striking out seven and walking two for Edward Little (1-0).

Shyler Scates had an RBI single for Erskine (0-1). Skates also pitched a complete game, allowing seven hits whle striking out seven and not issuing a walk.

Lewiston 8, Cony 4: Shawn Ricker hit a double, a triple and a single and drove in two runs to lead the host Blue Devils to the KVAC A win.

Nate Berube scored three runs for Lewiston (1-0).

For Cony, Ben Lucas had a hit and drove in a run. Simon Yorks scored a pair of runs for the Rams (0-1).

Boys lacrosse

Edward Little 5, Cony 4, 2OT: Drew Lupardo scored his second goal of the game late in the second overtime as the Eddies beat the Rams in a KVAC A game in Augusta.

Derek Elvin had two goals for Cony (0-1), while Sean Zubrod and Brendan Shurette each had one. Matt Swan made 14 saves.

Maranacook/Winthrop 13, Mt. Blue 1: Gabe Giguere had three goals as the Hawks beat the Cougars in Readfield.

Dan Condon and Toby Smith each added two goals and three assists for Maranacook/Winthrop. Jesse Evans and Zach Glazier each added two goals and an assist, while Nolen Howe and Simon Davis each chipped in a goal. James Canwell and Kyle Evans both had one assist.

Ryan Rouillard scored from Sam Taylor for Mt. Blue.