GREENFIELD — The bats came alive for the Greenfield softball team in the fourth inning against Easthampton on Thursday night. 

Trailing 1-0, Gloria McDonald smashed a home run to open the bottom of the fourth and tie the game. The Green Wave added a run to take a 2-1 lead before the inning came to a close. 

In the fifth, Greenfield put three runs on the board to take a comfortable lead and MacKenzie Paulin did the rest, coming in to pitch in the third and not allowing a hit the rest of the way as the Green Wave walked away with a 5-1 triumph at Vets Field. 

“That home run got us started,” Greenfield coach Ray Dodge said. “I told them after the game that we were swinging the bats better today than we have been the last few games. It’s good to see.” 

It was a combined pitching effort from Ellis Benitez and Paulin that got the job done in the circle for the Green Wave (17-1). 

Benitez got the start on Senior Night, tossing two innings while allowing just one hit and striking out a pair. Paulin came on to pitch the final five innings, and she didn’t allow a hit and struck out 13. 

With the type of pitching Greenfield has, Dodge said he hopes to see the bats continue to heat up going into the Western Mass. tournament, which gets underway next week. 

“We have to start hitting the ball,” Dodge said. “We don’t have to score 10, 12, 15 runs a game with our pitching. But, we will have to score seven or eight some games.” 

Easthampton got on the board in the first inning on Thursday. Kayley Downie walked, McKenzie McCarthy drilled a double and Sophia Faginski grounded out to score Downie to give the Eagles the early 1-0 lead. 

Greenfield threatened in the second and third frames, as McDonald and Benitez knocked hits in the second while Meghan Collins and Ainslee Flynn singled in the third, but the Green Wave were unable to push a run across. 

Following McDonald’s homer in the fourth, Ivy Rae singled. Collins later grounded out to plate Rae and give Greenfield a 2-1 lead. 

The Green Wave bats stayed hot in the fourth. Flynn opened with a walk, Paulin singled and McDonald followed with a single — her third hit of the day — to drive in Flynn. 

Benitez singled Paulin home and later, McDonald scored after Benitez got caught in a rundown between first and second to give Greenfield its 5-1 lead. 

Anna Bucala added a double in the sixth for the Green Wave. 

Rosie Follet went the distance for Easthampton (9-9), striking out five. 

Greenfield enters the postseason on a 15-game win streak as it looks to defend its Western Mass. Class C and MIAA Div. 5 state titles. 

“I think we’re in good shape,” Dodge said. “We’ll take a couple days off, get our bruises healed and we’ll be ready to go next week.” 

Wachusett 6, Turners 3 — A five-run second inning propelled Wachusett — the No. 1 ranked team in the MIAA Div. 1 power rankings — to a victory over the Thunder at Gary Mullins Field on Thursday night. 

Turners managed just two hits, as Mia Mirigliano cracked a double and Addison Talbot singled. Madi Liimatainen went the distance in the circle for the Thunder, striking out seven, scattering five hits with only three of the runs given up earned. 

On Wednesday, the Thunder got in the win column with a 4-2 independent triumph over South Hadley at Gary Mullins Field. 

Liimatainen got the job done in the circle on Wednesday, striking out 14 and allowing just one hit. At the plate, Liimatainen doubled while Marigliano, Holly Myers and Marilyn Abarua hit safely for the Thunder. 

Girls tennis

 St. Mary’s 4, Greenfield 1 — The Green Wave won their point at first doubles, as Lydia Wood and Karinna Kostov notched a 6-2, 5-7, 11-9 victory on Thursday.

The Saints swept the singles matches, dropping just five total games across three matches at the Davis Street Courts.