AUGUSTA — Just 10 days ago, the Cony High School baseball team searched for answers after a 1-4 start. The Rams have since found some.

Monday, they won their third straight game, beating Erskine 6-2 behind a strong pitching performance from junior Zack Lachance, some timely hitting and a pair of untimely Erskine errors.

Lachance gave up both runs and three of the seven hits he allowed in the second inning. The right-hander settled down after that and bailed himself out of jams in the sixth and seventh innings, finishing with five strikeouts while not allowing a walk.

“He did great,” freshman catcher Tayler Carrier said of Lachance. “He was hitting spots like he should.”

Erskine (5-3) came into the game on a roll as well. The Eagles were coming off a big week in which they beat Mt. Ararat (4-0), Lewiston (5-1) and Edward Little (6-1). With ace Shyler Scates on the mound, they appeared in good shape. For some reason, though, they haven’t played well behind the tall right-hander who has pitched four complete games and stands at 1-3.

“My arm felt good,” said Scates, who fanned eight and didn’t walk a batter. “As long as we play defense, we’re going to win games, but when that lacks . . .”

The Eagles scored twice in the second inning on doubles from Scates, Tom Grady and Brendan Wood. Scates finished with two doubles and a single, all hard-hit balls.

“I’ve been seeing the ball prety well the last couple of weeks,” Scates said. “I’m just trying to hit line drives.”

The Rams collected eight hits against Scates. They tied the game in the bottom of the second without getting the ball out of the infield. A hit batter and a misplayed bunt put runners on second and third and they scored on a groundout by Chase Shostak and an infield hit by Ben Lucas.

“We’re playing good baseball, we’re making plays, (getting) timely hits,” Cony coach Don Plourde said. “The pitching has been fantastic. The last four games we’ve given up two runs, two runs, one run, two runs.”

The Rams put together their best inning in the third when Lachance led with a single and scored on Chandler Shostak’s long double to left. Shostak scored on a single to right by Simon Yorks. Cony (4-4) added two runs in the fourth after Chase Shostak and Lachance each singled and scored on an infield error.

“Lachance came back and pitched really well,” Erskine coach Lars Jonassen said. “We just didn’t support Shyler.

Gary Hawkins — 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com

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