GRANBY — In a game marked more by its gaffes than its greatness, momentum swung Pioneer Regional’s way last as the No. 10 Panthers beat No. 7 Granby, 9-5, Thursday in the Western Massachusetts Division 3 Softball Tournament first round.

“We’re so young. We start three eighth-graders. But all season long, we’ve never not fought to the end,” Granby coach Gary Casey said. “We just have to learn from our mistakes and get better.”

The Rams, who finished strong just to reach postseason, completed the year at 10-11. Despite the rocky outing, Casey, whose team lost just two seniors (one starter), thought the game would be a valuable experience for his young returning nucleus.

“When we started 1-5, I was really trying to get enough wins to get into the tournament because I really wanted the young girls to experience that,” he said. “Next year we’ll hopefully do a little better.”

In addition to the game’s 11 errors, most of which played a direct or indirect role in scoring, there were mental miscues, a wild pitch on an intentional walk, funny bounces and other assorted blunders.

After Granby scored in the bottom of first with the help of an error, Pioneer answered with a bobble-aided tying run in the second and two more in the third to give the Panthers a 3-1 lead.

The teams traded single runs in the bottom of the third and top of the fourth as Pioneer led 4-2.

Senior first baseman Jordan Kennedy stroked a single to start the Granby fourth. She advanced to second when Abi Beauregard was safe on a fielder’s choice on a indecisive throw. Julia Gauvin reached on a error to load the bases.

Lexi Strycharz bounced to the pitcher, who cut down Kennedy at the plate. After Beauregard scored from third on a wild pitch to make it 4-3, Megan Lempke struck out, but the catcher didn’t squeeze strike three and Lempke took off for first. Instinctively Shelby Avery threw to first allowing Gauvin to scoot home from third with the tying run.

Mallory Beauregard reached on an error to bring home Strycharz to put Granby up 5-4 and chase Panther starter Kaylee Gibson from the game.

In the top of the sixth, Abi Beauregard set down the first two batters , but Logan Anderson started a two-out rally with a double to left and Alexus Vergobbe followed with a two-bagger of her own to tie the game. Brianna Jobst went the other way with the same result, doubling home Vergobbe to put Pioneer up 6-5.

Granby drew two walks in the bottom of the inning, but Liz Fuller, who worked the final three innings for Pioneer, struck out the side to escape unscathed.

Another Pioneer two-out rally, aided by two Ram errors and a wild pitch, gave the Panthers three insurance runs in the seventh.

Granby, which left nine runners on base, loaded the bases in the seventh, but couldn’t close the gap.

Pioneer (11-10) advanced to face No. 2 Turners Falls, Sunday at 7 p.m.

In addition to Kennedy, fellow senior Kaylee Roberts, who pinch ran for Kennedy in the fifth, also played her final high school game.