LYNN — It took four hours and 14 innings to decide Friday’s battle between two teams in solid postseason positions. After plenty of dugout conversation, St. Mary’s (No. 2 in Div. 2) prevailed against Saint John’s Shrewsbury (No. 6 in Div. 1) 2-1.

“We weren’t very happy, as a group, after Tuesday’s game (12-4 loss to Bishop Stang). We had two good days of practice and all I asked them to do today was compete,” said St. Mary’s coach Derek Dana, whose Spartans improved to 11-2. “From top to bottom, we competed. We asked a lot of guys to step up tonight and they did. They stepped up and competed and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

In the bottom of the 14th inning, with runners on first and second and two outs on the board, St. Mary’s Rolky Brea Arias stepped to the plate. Arias hit a ground ball that looked destined to end the inning, but after an errant throw and hustle from Arias, Michael DeMaino scored from second base.

A few innings earlier, on a similar play, Arias slid into first base, but was ruled out. Dana was proud Arias charged down the first-base line again.

“That’s what we talk about. Rolky definitely gets it. We need to keep applying pressure, no matter what it is — running on and off the field, running the bases, fouling off pitches, pounding the strike zone,” Dana said. “Rolky busted his butt down there and we keep talking about trying to crack the egg. Keep applying pressure.”

Brennan Malloy got the start and pitched 5 1/3 innings for the Spartans. He carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and finished with nine strikeouts.

“That was a big-boy start by Brennan. He’s getting better and better. This is his first year on the mound and every time he takes it, he keeps improving and learning,” Dana said. “He’s starting to understand things situationally, but from the mound to home, he was fantastic today.”

St. Mary’s had to use three more pitchers to get through Friday’s marathon: Kyle Doney (2 2/3 IP, 2 K ), DeMaino (3 IP, K), and Jacob Peterson (WP, 3 IP, 2 K). 

St. Mary’s struck first during the fourth inning when Doney hit a double to left-center field, bringing home Peterson. The Pioneers answered in the sixth inning with an RBI single up the middle.

“Kalen (Huddle) was sharp today and threw out two runners. He kept everything in front of him and did an outstanding job,” Dana said. “Jackson Barrett isn’t an everyday starter, but he came up with some great plays. He did the little things. He took a rocket at him and we talk about putting your body in front of the ball and he did. Rowan (Merryman) made some nice picks at first, Nate (Cutone) and Mikey DeMaino both made great plays. Rolky made some nice plays out there and makes it look easy. I was very happy with the defense.”

St. Mary’s travels to face Bishop Fenwick Monday at 4 p.m.