How did Cumberland softball advance in the playoffs? By playing a tough, gritty game.

CUMBERLAND — If the season had gone differently, it’s quite possible the Cumberland softball team would have reacted adversely to how Saturday’s start against Smithfield went.

But with the season the Clippers have had, they weren’t going to let a little thing like a tough first inning end their year.

After allowing Smithfield a run in the first, Cumberland went out and played the kind of softball it knew it was capable of. The Clippers strung some hits together, took advantage of Sentinel errors and didn’t get nervous when Smithfield tried to rally late. Cumberland’s 7-5 win fit its identity — gritty and tough — and showed its confidence is where it needs to be this time of the spring.

“All week we’ve been saying ‘we’re going to win this game, we’re going to win this game,’ ” Cumberland’s Allie Casavant said. “It was definitely scary playing [Smithfield] again knowing we lost the first one ... but getting the win is very nice.

“I’m sorry that their season is over, but we’re not done yet.”

The Clippers are moving on because they didn’t let a tough start — where a walk and two-out error led to a Smithfield run in the first — put them in a downward spiral.

Cumberland has put bat on ball well this season and did so again on Saturday morning. Two one-out singles started things, a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases and when Smithfield couldn’t handle a pop-up in the infield — which ended up being a fielder’s choice by rule — the game was tied.

Up stepped Casavant, who untied it in a hurry, ripping a pitch into the outfield for a double that brought home Alexa Boutin.

Cumberland continued to apply pressure to Smithfield’s young defense. Lacie Grenier reached on an error to start and scored on an RBI single by Jill Ryone. Three batters later, Isabelle Iannuccilli put a ball in play that ended up being an error and let Caitlin McVeigh come home for a 4-1 lead.

“We’ve had a pretty rough start to the season, but we don’t get down when people score against us,” Casavant said. “We know our bats can keep us in the game and we know our pitchers are going to keep us in the game.

“Getting down doesn’t really bother us as much as it used to and it’s nice to know we have the confidence to keep going.”

In the fourth, the Clippers broke the game open. Casavant hit an RBI single and later scored on another Smithfield error. Piper Barata, who had reached on a bunt single, capped the scoring with a theft of home on a double-steal play that made it 7-2.

After the tough first inning, Ryone settled in. She wasn’t overpowering, but she was efficient and the offensive support gave her the confidence she needed to keep grinding through the game.

“I just focused,” Ryone said. “Warmups went well for me, I just focused on throwing strikes, throwing my pitches and once we started hitting, it started making me more comfortable.’

“I just try not to think about anything, try not to think too hard. Whatever happens, happens, and I just go out there and try to get it done.”

Smithfield didn’t go away quietly.

Skyla Oliveira, one of two seniors in the lineup, ripped a triple in the fifth that scored Crystal Cacador and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Sophia Parrillo. Back-to-back singles by Lily Riggin and Ava Lopez kept things going and Haley Ellis, the second senior, drove home a run to cut the deficit to 7-5 by the time the inning was over.

“We definitely had to keep our heads up. It’s hard having a few hard hits out there and a few errors,” Oliveira said. “I think we pushed through it.”

Ryone started the inning with a ground ball, then watched as Juliana Jenkins took over and closed things out. Jenkins gave up a two-out single in the sixth, but retired the final four batters of the game to keep Cumberland’s season going.

“I’m really confident in Juliana,” Ryone said. “She’s done well all season and I know she has my back if I need her and if I’m struggling, she’ll go in and do her job.”

The loss marked the end of Smithfield’s season. The Sentinels’ young roster showed vast improvement all spring and is certainly a team to watch for next spring.

Oliveira walked off the field disappointed with the loss, but proud of what the team accomplished this season and her career.

“I’m going to remember all the memories and the bus rides,” Oliveira said. “It’s not about the score or the record or strikeouts; it’s about them and that’s what I’m definitely going to miss the most.”

Cumberland gets at least two more games, but its next one won’t be easy.

The Clippers start the double-elimination portion of the state tourney at No. 1 La Salle, which went undefeated this spring. Cumberland knows what it’s in for but is more than up for the challenge.

“The last time we played them early in the season, we only lost, 5-0,” Casavant said. “Our pitchers did an amazing job. I feel like if we can get the bats going and play defensively how we did last time, we should be perfectly fine.”

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Cumberland softball beats Smithfield in RIIL playoffs, 7-5