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OAKLAND — After what happened to the Bangor baseball team on its own field against Messalonskee last year, the Rams can consider this payback.

A year ago, the Eagles’ Denny Martin no-hit Bangor, and Messalonskee erupted offensively in an 11-0 win. This time, it was the Rams’ offense coming through — and their pitcher dazzling on the mound.

Bangor claimed a 7-2 road victory over Messalonskee in a battle of Class A North hopefuls Wednesday. The Rams got 6 1/3 innings of no-hit ball from Matt Turcotte and two home runs and five RBI from Teddy Stephenson to keep pace in a tight playoff race.

“It was a great team performance,” said Bangor coach Dave Morris. “We had good pitching, played good defense and got some good hits when we needed them. We had great individual performances from all of our guys.”

How Bangor did it

• Stephenson put the Rams (8-3) ahead in a flash, blasting a two-run home run to left field on the game’s second at-bat. With Bangor leading 4-0 in the sixth, he went deep again to pad the visitors’ lead.

• Turcotte was perfect through four innings and had a no-hitter going until Michael Achorn doubled for Messalonskee (6-6) in the seventh. A home run by Martin on the next at-bat gave the Eagles their only runs.

“I was just really confident in my stuff,” said Turcotte, who had six strikeouts. “I knew that I could throw my stuff by them, and if they put it in play, I know I’ve got a great defense behind me that can make plays.”

• Indeed, Bangor’s defense was solid. The Rams recorded 14 putouts — including a great play by Turcotte on a Messalonskee bunt to preserve the no-hitter in the sixth — while committing just one error.

What it means

• The result against a pitcher who mowed through the Rams last year wasn’t the only thing Bangor avenged. Messalonskee also ended the Rams’ 2024 season in the Class A North title game, defeating them 4-3.

• After a 6-1 start, Messalonskee has lost five straight. An offense that struck terror into opposing teams during its run to the regional title last year has struggled during the losing streak, plating three or fewer runs in four of the five games.

“In this losing streak, we’ve done it all,” said Messalonskee coach Eric Palin said. “We’ve had games where we can hit well and field well but don’t pitch well, or maybe we play stellar defense, but hitting or pitching are a problem. We need to be able to put all three together.”

They said it

• “It feels great. They humiliated us at home last year, and then they ended our season. I had a bit of a chip on my shoulder this game; I really wanted to beat these guys at their own home.” — Matt Turcotte

• “We know nobody’s going to take pity on us; we’ve got to dig ourselves out of the rut. We’re still the reigning champs, and we want to show what we have. Right now, we’re preaching, ‘Hey, we’ve got four games left, so let’s win these four and worry about where we’re at then.’” — Eric Palin

Stat leaders

• Bangor: Matt Turcotte (win, complete game, 6 K, 2 BB, 2 hits, no-hitter through 6 1/3), Teddy Stephenson (3 hits, 2 HR, 5 RBI), Gavin Glanville-True (2 2B, 1B)

• Messalonskee: Denny Martin (5 IP, 4 K, 3 BB; HR, 2 RBI), Michael Achorn (2B)

Up next

• Bangor: vs. Hampden Academy (8-4), 7 p.m. Friday

• Messalonskee: vs. Camden Hills (2-10), 4:15 p.m. Friday