FREEPORT — When a team is struggling, coaches are always looking for little things to grow on.

Freeport High School first year softball coach Jason Daniel has seen his young Falcons struggle mightily through the first five of games of their Western Maine Conference slate, outscored 86-6 and only playing beyond the fifth inning one time (an 11-4 season-opening loss to Wells).

On Thursday against a talented Poland squad, Freeport fell 12-0, with the game extending into the sixth inning before the 6-2 Knights put the Falcons away. But, Daniel was pleased with his team’s efforts.

“This was the best game we have played all season,” said the Freeport coach, whose team hosts Fryeburg Academy on Monday at 4 p.m. “Today, we made plays and made contact with the ball. The score, I am not reflecting on that. I am reflecting on the fact that they made good plays. We are down two players, and we are all learning and having fun.”

Poland had a new challenge as well, with Kolby Woods tossing her first game of the regular season after an injury during the preseason. Woods carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, when Freeport’s Morgan Karnes launched a two-out double. Woods finished things off her one-hit shutout with her ninth strikeout to close the game.

“She did amazing today, and we couldn’t ask for a better pitcher on the mound, no matter if I am catching Kolby or Kylie (Martin),” said Poland catcher Kelsey DeBurra, who helped out with her bat by going 3-for-5 with two runs scored. “We want to keep playing like we have and get it done every single game.”

“I think she was a little nervous coming out today, but the girls were 100 percent behind her and this win was mainly for her,” Poland coach Kat McKay said.

Poland takes control

After a scoreless opening frame, the Knights got to Freeport pitcher Bri Bellefleur for three runs in the second. Madison Simard led off the inning with a single, moved to second on a ground out, to third on a wild pitch and to the plate on a ground ball by Kalor Plummer for a 1-0 lead. Sarah Walton picked up an RBI, and No. 9 hitter Morgan Brousseau drilled a Bellefleur offering that slipped past the dive of a Freeport outfielder for an inside-the-park home run.

“They struggle with that,” said Daniel of not having an outfield fence.

Poland doubled its lead in the third. DeBurra singled and later scored on a grounder by Simard. On the next pitch, Martin laced a liner just inside the right-field line for a two-run home run and a 6-0 Knights advantage.

A four-spot in the fourth upped Poland’s lead to 10-0, with the key blow a two-run triple by Walton.

McKay said her team didn’t take Freeport lightly, despite the Falcons’ struggles this season.

“We take every team as serious as the team before,” McKay said. “We want to come to play, no matter if it is Lake Region, Freeport or Fryeburg. On any day, you never know. Freeport made some good plays in the field, just some mis-hops in the outfield that could have been a game-changer.”

“We were told not take this team lightly, and we came in with our heads on our shoulders,” DeBurra said.

Freeport had a solid game in the field, with Karnes at second base and third baseman Krista Bertrand coming up with nice plays.

“They see that they can make the plays and need to not get down on themselves,” Daniel said. “I want them to play with heart. If we lose, we lose. But, we are going to have heart.”

Poland added a pair of runs in the sixth on a two-run single by Emily Gibson, and Woods shut the door from there. The Knights are currently the fourth-ranked team in the Western Maine Class B Heal Points, with Wells slated to visit on Monday at 4 p.m. Walton finished with a game-high three RBIs in the win, while Erin Brewer walked twice and scored a pair of runs. All nine Poland starters had at least one hit as the Knights pounded out 11 hits in all.

Bellefleur finished with one strikeout and seven walks.