Island Coast was given a massive dose of relief on the mound and at the plate by Kyle Harding Thursday night.

The right-handed relief pitcher entered the game in the third inning with the score tied and one runner on base. Harding proceeded to toss six scoreless innings of one-hit ball while striking out six and walking just one batter in the Gators’ 8-5 victory over LaBelle.

Against Gators starting pitcher Nelson Candelaria, LaBelle opened a 5-1 lead, including four runs in the top of the second inning on three hits and two Island Coast errors. After that, the Gators scored seven unanswered runs.

“We’ve come back two or three times this season, so getting four runs down at the start didn’t worry me too much because it was early,” said Gators coach Clinton Montgomery. “Getting behind always worries me, but we did a good job. I was pleased with the way we kept tacking on runs a little at a time. Having a three-run lead in the seventh was pretty comfortable.”

Cole Ondrejka started the comeback with two outs in the bottom of the second with an RBI single. Chase Vogelbach followed with a two-run single and Taylor Renegar tied the game at 5-5 with an RBI single.

When LaBelle’s leadoff hitter walked to open the third, harding relieved Candelaria. Harding’s first batter lined a ball to Pablo Matos at first base, who stepped on the bag to double-off Austin Garcia. After issuing his only base on balls, Harding struck out Frankie Self to end the threat.

Harding set down the Cowboys in order in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings before surrendering the only hit against him with two out in the seventh.

“He is our best pitcher right now, but he is not a starter,” Montgomery said of Harding. “That’s a good thing for us. He doesn’t get many at-bats in that role, but came through with two hits and an RBI tonight.”

It was Harding who started what proved to be the game-winning rally in the third. He led off with a single and was sacrificed to second by Randy Petito. Three batters later, with two out, Ondrejka singled Harding home with the go-ahead run.

Harding’s two-out single drove in a run in the fourth for a 7-5 lead and the Gators tacked on another run in the sixth.

Ondrejka finished 2-for-4 with two RBI with Vogelbach and Taylor Renegar each contributing two RBI.

The Gators (8-6) visit Mariner Friday night.

LaBelle140 000 0 – 5 6 5

Island Coast141 101 x – 8 8 2

W – Kyle Harding. L – Steven Sodrel.

2B – Angel Alvarez (L).

Fort Myers 12, Cape Coral 2: Cody Carroll and Brett Hobaugh had RBI hits in Cape Coral’s loss Thursday at Fort Myers.

The Seahawks outhit the Green Wave 8-7, but cold not push across enough runs to keep it close.

Cain Spangler, the losing pitcher, was one of seven Seahawks collecting base hits, including Mitch Marinack with two hits.

The Seahawks (2-10) host Ida Baker at 6 p.m. Friday to resume a game suspended a week ago by rain.

Cape Coral001 001 – 2 8 4

Fort Myers024 312 – 12 7 0

Oasis 8, Southwest Florida Christian: Jeffrey Passantino fired a one-hitter with 14 strikeouts to lead Oasis to its first varsity victory at the expense of Southwest Florida Christian Thursday.

Matt Richey contributed three hits, including a home run, and Tim Warren was 3-for-4 to lead the Sharks.

Softball

Cape Coral 8, Fort Myers 3: Tara Higgins doubled and drove in two runs while Shannon McBride and Cassandra Maselter contributed two hits apiece to lead Cape Coral to victory Thursday over Fort Myers.

Brenna Harkins earned the win on the mound for the Seahawks, striking out five.

North Fort Myers 8, Lemon Bay 1: Lexi Schlotter (2-for-4) belted a double and a triple, Katrissa Rowell and Paige Engh drove in a run apiece to lead North Fort Myers to victory Thursday at Lemon Bay.

Jasmine Santiago (2-for-4) and Micheala Schlotter (2-for-3) contributed to the Red Knights’ eight-hit attack.

Jackie Owen struck out 15 and allowed three hits to pick up her 13th win on the mound.

The Red Knights (13-1) host Cypress Lake Monday and Fort Myers Tuesday.

North FM140 201 0 – 8 8 1

Lemon Bay010 000 0 – 1 3 6

W – Jackie Owen (13-1). L – Gilmartin.

2B – Lexi Schlotter (NFM). 3B – Lexi Schlotter (NFM).

Girls Tennis

Bishop Verot 5, Lemon Bay 2: Bishop Verot powered its way past Lemon Bay Thursday to register its 11th victory in 12 matches heading into next Wednesday’s final regular season match with Canterbury.

Singles – Linda Kornienko (BV) def. Anita Vorlicek 6-0, 6-0; Mariel Rickert (BV) def. Andrea Vorlicek 7-5, 6-0; Kathleen Norris (BV) def. Amber Peretz 7-5, 6-3; Caitlin Powell (LB) def. Kayla Cheslosky 6-2, 7-6; Claudia Kalwinski (LB) def. Kelsey Berberich 6-2, 6-4.

Doubles – Kornienko-Rickert (BV) def. Anita Vorlicek-Kalwinski 8-1; Norris-Cheslosky (BV) def. Andrea Vorlicek-Peretz.

Boys Tennis

Island Coast 7, Dunbar 0: Island Coast wrapped up its regular season campaign Thursday with a sweep of Dunbar. The Gators finish with a 5-7 record.

Singles – Colton Wieser (IC) def. Kelsey Dos Santos 6-0, 6-0; Mason Rodill (IC) def. Justin Torres 6-1, 6-0; Joseph Hemmert (IC) def. Christopher Matsumoto 6-0, 6-0; Ryan Wambolt (IC) def. Joseph Stratta 6-1, 6-0; Matthew Dal Bon (IC) won forfeit.

Doubles – Wieser-Rodill (IC) def. Dos Santos-Torres 8-1; Wambolt-Dal Bon (IC) def. Matsumoto-Stratta 8-0.