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GEORGETOWN — Entering the season with their third coach in four years, the Pentucket seniors didn't know what to expect. But seven games in, it looks like the program not only has found some stability, but a mentor that could lead them back to postseason play.

A year after winning only six games, the Sachems improved to 4-3 under new skipper Danielle Mason, scoring five unearned runs in the sixth en route to a 6-1 victory yesterday over Georgetown.

"Coach Mason is a great coach," said shortstop Sarah Dickinson, who went 2 for 4 with two RBI and made a pair of spectacular defensive plays, including a diving snag of a line drive to end the game. "She knows her stuff. A lot of us have had different coaches, but we're ready for anything. I'm glad she got the job. She proved from Day 1 she knows what she's talking about. I'm very grateful I have her for a coach. I've learned a lot from her."

Pentucket (4-3 overall, 3-3 Cape Ann League) had only three hits against Georgetown (2-2, 2-2), but the Sachems took advantage of eight walks, seven wild pitches and seven stolen bases. Julianne Meehan opened the fourth with a pop fly to shallow right, but two errors on the play left her at third before scoring on a Sarah Erlandson wild pitch.

It was more of the same in the sixth despite Erlandson opening the frame with two of her 15 strikeouts. Four walks, two errors, three wild pitches and Dickinson's two-run single — the only hit of the inning — provided the winning margin.

The limited support was more than enough for starter Julianne Meehan, who posted nine of her 12 strikeouts over the final four innings, including striking out the side in the fourth and seventh. The senior allowed four hits and an unearned run in the fourth.

"We're already close to surpassing where they were last year," Mason said. "That in and of itself would mark a successful season, but they really have their sights set on making the state tournament this year. So we know what our goal is and every game we're trying to get better.

"I think they were really unsure coming into the season of what to expect. They've had a lot of change. Basically I let them know that we were wiping the system clean, and if we didn't embrace that then we weren't every going to be able to turn the corner. The program for the most part has been one of mediocrity, and I think this is an opportunity to do something different."

Despite her lack of control and losing for the second straight outing, Erlandson once again posted some impressive numbers, striking out at least 12 for the fourth time. The senior struck out at least two in five innings, including the side in the second, third and fourth, when Pentucket had the bases loaded and no out.

"She was off this game, and she was off last game," Georgetown coach Julie Lamoly said of her ace. "We haven't seen this Sarah since she was a freshman. So it's frustrating for us. The experience is what I like (about the Royals). But after the past two games, I don't know so much. We look like we're a bunch of 12-year-olds out there ... Offensively we're struggling."