Lillian Gray threw seven shutout innings and keyed a five-run explosion in the seventh inning with a two-run single as visiting New Bedford defeated Durfee 7-0 in Big 3 softball action Monday afternoon.

Mike Thomas Herald News Sports Editor

FALL RIVER - Lillian Gray threw seven shutout innings and keyed a five-run explosion in the seventh inning with a two-run single as visiting New Bedford defeated Durfee 7-0 in Big 3 softball action Monday afternoon.

Gray, an 8th grader, allowed two hits - an infield single to Gabby Streeto to open the bottom of the first inning and a single to Faith Ferreira to begin the fourth - and recorded 10 strikeouts.

"She's ahead of her time," said New Bedford coach Harry Lowe. "She's my cleanup hitter, she hits her spots. She's got great poise out there."

The Whalers remained undefeated in league play at 2-0 and are 4-5 overall. Durfee is 1-1 in the Big 3 and 2-7 overall.

"(Gray) pitched well, kept us off balance," said Durfee coach John Ferreira. "She kept the ball inside a lot and didn't let us extend our arms."

Both Gray and Durfee pitcher Jack Dumont kept their opponent off the board through four innings before the Whalers struck for two unearned runs in the fifth.

Monica Eires hit a one-out blooper that landed in the infield and Emma Ferland followed with a routine comebacker that Dumont handled, but her throw to first deflected off Ferland's shoulder and went into right field as Eires motored home for the first run of the game.

With Ferland on third, Sydnee Ramos hit another comebacker and caught Ferland between third and home. Dumont's throw home was a bit high and the ball dropped as Ferland made it 2-0.

The two runs were more than enough for Gray.

"In the first inning, they had a runner on third with Jackie up and she made some nice pitches to Jackie," Lowe said. "Jackie is a great hitter and she has hurt us in the past.

"I thought we played great defense behind (Gray). She just has so much poise out there. We had a game earlier this year when we weren't making plays behind her and she just didn't waver. Let's just say I'm glad she plays for us."

New Bedford got six of its 11 hits in the seventh inning, including two-run singles each from Gray and Kylee Caetano, and sent all nine batters to the plate, scoring five runs.

"We're a young team," said Lowe. "My pitcher's an eighth grader. My left fielder is an eighth grader. My second baseman and my DH are eighth graders."