CONCORD — With the bases loaded and one out in the top of the seventh inning, Bishop Brady relief pitcher Payton Bryson had little margin for error. The No. 5 Giants (13-4) led their first-round playoff matchup with No. 12 Conant (7-10) on Wednesday, 6-4, but the Orioles threatened to turn the game on its head.

Like she’s done for much of the season, though, Bryson found a way to slam the door, striking out the next two hitters she faced and catapulting Bishop Brady into the Division III quarterfinals on Saturday. 

“They’ve just been grinding,” head coach Shane Baron said. “It’s been awesome to watch. Awesome to watch.”

After the Giants took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, the Orioles struck back in the third — a three-run double off the bat of Francesca Ketola put Conant ahead 3-1. Brady cut it to 3-2 in the bottom of the inning after scoring a run on an error, and then took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth after a two-run single from Maia Dow.

“Big hit,” Baron said. “That’s a girl that’s a freshman and comes up and hits two girls in. Crazy good. Crazy good.”

Abby Tyrrell started in the circle for the Giants and battled through five innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits, with no walks and five strikeouts. Most importantly, Baron said, she allowed the team to hang around.

“She just kept us in the game,” he said. “Gave us that chance. She’s been like that all year. She’s been that pitcher for us.”

Since Baron took over as the program’s head coach three seasons ago, Wednesday was the Giants’ first playoff game. They improved from a 6-10 season last year to win 12 regular season games. Now, they can add a playoff win to the resume as well.

It was a young group that he took over that’s steadily gained experience, culminating in the high level of success they’ve had this season. Next on their radar: No. 4 Gilford, a team that’s won 11 straight. 

But there’s something about this year’s Giants that has Baron believing his team can pull out another win on Saturday.

“It’s going to be a tough one, but I think we can do it,” he said. “This team is definitely ready for this. They’re ready for a run.”