A dejected bunch of Sabers listen to Souhegan baseball coach Tom Walker after the Sabers fell in the Division II state semis to John Stark, 12-5, on Wednesday.

AMHERST – Surrendering a “disastrous” 10-run inning in April or May can be a teaching tool or a lesson learned. In June, it’s nothing but fatal.

The Souhegan Sabers absorbed that painful fact on Wednesday afternoon, crumbling in the John Stark fifth. The Generals sent 14 batters to the plate in the fateful, decisive frame – plating 10 on 5 hits, two walks, two hit batters and a pair of Souhegan errors – to claim the Division II state semifinal, 12-5.

“It was the first time all season where we had that kind of disastrous inning where we couldn’t stop the opposition’s momentum,” said Souhegan coach Tom Walker.

Souhegan, which finishes the year at 16-5, was the first to strike, plating a pair in the bottom of the fourth after Stark ace Austin Hazzard had posted three perfect frames.

Nick Wilson started things by reaching on an error with one out in the inning. Colin Burke walked, and Dylan Dufour put up the at-bat of the day, roping a two-strike liner to right for Souhegan’s first hit and first run. Keegan Burke followed with a sacrifice fly to deep right, making it 2-0.

Wilson, the Sabers’ starter had cruised through the first four, giving up just one hit and two walks to that point, fanning four.

But the Generals’ fifth began ominously with a pair of well-placed, ground-ball singles, and Walker made the move to the bullpen.

“For us, we’re high as a kite, and coming off of Saturday (quarterfinal win),” said Walker. “I just think those two quick hits, they kind of had us on our heels a little bit. We just didn’t get that big play to seize the momentum back. They rolled in that inning and there was just no stopping them unfortunately.

“Nick was cruising along. Our pitching has been the backbone of the thing, and we knew we were going to try and use our relievers short. And two-nothing, the first two guys have seeing-eye hits. I just said to him, ‘listen, we’ve got arms behind you.'”

Stark’s Noah Brent got the sacrifice down, and speedy leadoff man Nathan Innerfield knotted the score and gave his team the lead for good with lightning efficiency.

His bounding ball up the middle into center plated a pair. The junior then stole second and third, waltzing home when the throw to the hot corner sailed into left.

Seven straight General hitters would reach safely against a trio of Souhegan relievers. All seven would score as Jason Crean (2-run single) and Cam Bergeron (RBI triple) struck the decisive blows.

“We had a couple chances, we had a play at home where I think that might have stunted it. Unfortunately, the throw and the catch didn’t pan out,” said Walker. “They took advantage of it. Our pitchers, as we rolled them in from the bullpen, nobody seemed to have the answer, so that’s what happened. They seized momentum, it was great baseball on their part.

“Unfortunately, arm-char quarterbacking, could I have extended Nicky, I probably could have. But again, if our relievers come in, and we make some plays and get some outs, everybody thinks it’s a great move.”

Wilson certainly left all he had on the field in his final game as a Saber.

“I felt bad for Nicky as a senior. I kind of wanted to leave him out there. I just got the better of me. I said, I have six pitchers, let’s get himm out now,” said Walker.

Souhegan struggled to solve the riddles posed by winning pitcher Hazzard (4.1 IP, 1er, 2h, 1bb, 5k) and Innerfield, who went the final 2.2 innings in relief.

“Hazzard’s tough. He mixed it up well. He kept us off balance,” said Walker. “We knew that was the type of game he was going to throw.”

Trailing 12-2, Souhegan plated three runs in the seventh before seeing the game and season come to a close. Freshman Nick Nowak tripled in a run, and Riley Carr delivered an RBI single. Mitch Hauser and Nolan Colby singled and scored.

But now it’s on to 2022.

“The three seniors we have are excellent leaders,” said Walker of Wilson, center-fielder Reese Colby and David Reith. “They’re great in the classroom. They’re all headed off to school. Nick Wilson is headed to play up there at Plymouth State. And that’s what we want. We want character kids in the classroom, good kids on the baseball field.

“They’ll be missed, but we’ve got a superlative junior class. The core group is back. Maybe this bitter pill will motivate them to get ready for next season.”