HOLYOKE – The Valley Blue Sox had the bases loaded with one out and the tying run on third base in the bottom of the eighth inning Wednesday night.

But Keene pitcher Sean Finn got an out with a play from the plate along with a strikeout en route to a 5-4 NECBL victory at MacKenzie Stadium.

Valley, coming off a 10-8 win against Western Division-leading Bristol, is trying to make the divisional race interesting with just one week to go in the New England Collegiate Baseball League regular season. Valley pitcher Mike Jensen got the nod for his second start of the season on Wednesday.

Keene scored early on a Nicholas Romano RBI single. Third Baseman Zev Moore made a crucial fielding error that led the run to score. The visitors scored two more an inning later on an Austin Hawk RBI double and a Joe Jaconski sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.

Valley responded in the bottom of the third on a Jonathan Hogart sacrifice fly to make it 3-1. Moore tied the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth to make it 3-3.

Keene immediately responded by scoring on an Andre Vidal error, and after five it was 4-3 Keene.

Swamp Bats infielder Ripken Reese made an error at shortstop to allow Valley to tie it 4-4

The Keene go-ahead run was scored on a Christopher Torres wild pitch. The run was unearned and Keene took a 5-4 advantage.

The bottom of the eighth was very eventful. Braxton Stewart allowed runners to reach on a hit-by-pitch and two walks. He was immediately replaced by Finn, who got an out on a fielder’s choice and a strikeout to end the Valley rally. The Blue Sox threatened in the bottom of the ninth with a one out single to Logan Hugo but failed to bring him in.

Blue Sox starter Mike Jensen gave up four earned runs in five innings pitched. He allowed six hits, walked one and struck out one. Swamp Bats starter Joseph Carrea gave up three earned runs in 3-plus innings pitched. He surrendered four hits, one walk, and two strikeouts.

Valley travels to Danbury on Thursday night to play the Westerners. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and can be streamed on the NECBL Network.