WORCESTER >> The Div. 1 softball dynasty for the Taunton Tigers marches on as the storybook ending for senior captains Catherine Larson and Brooke Aldrich came to a close by defeating a familiar opponent at Worcester State University on Saturday night.

Larson and Aldrich drove in a combined seven runs as No. 1 Taunton rallied from a pair of two-run deficits to escape No. 2 Wachusett, 10-4, to make it five straight Div. 1 state titles. The first came against Wachusett back in 2021 and it is the program’s sixth since 2018.

“We haven’t trailed much this year, but what I can tell you is, when we do trail, they don’t give up,” said Tigers coach Michelle Raposo. “It doesn’t matter how much the deficit is. They come back and they just fight. They chip away and they keep fighting and I just never see them down or deflated ever. … They’re an unbelievable bunch.”

Taunton (25-0) trailed 2-0 after the first inning and rallied in the bottom of the second as Larson tied the score 2-2 on a solo shot to left after an RBI groundout scored sophomore Aniyah Bailey from third after her leadoff triple.

Wachusett (22-3) responded with runs in the third and the fourth on RBI hits for senior Tiegan Walsh and Morgan Lucas respectively to go up 4-2 midway through the contest.

The Tigers kept their composure and chipped away with an RBI single for Madison Crowley to make it 4-3 after four.

“I don’t think we have any doubt that we’re going to give up on our game,” Larson said about the team rallying multiple times. “We always just take that feeling, take those nerves, take all that energy and go forward with it. We turn it into something we can build on and work together.”

Taunton took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth as Aldrich drove in the game-tying run with a double down the left field line. Larson then grounded out to short to score Bella Bourque to make it 5-4 after five.

The Tigers then added on with five runs in the sixth with the biggest hit coming on a two-run, two-out double for Larson to make it 10-4 after RBIs for Mia Torres, Bailey and Aldrich earlier in the frame.

“I was trying to add onto the scoreboard because I know we fell behind early and that (Wachusett) was hitting off me,” said Larson about being able to provide a spark at the plate. “So, I thought I needed to do my own duty for our team.”

Larson also went the distance on the mound as she struck out eight with eight left on base, including the final batter of the contest with the bases loaded.

“It’s awesome,” Larson said about winning five straight state titles. “It’s like adding to the dynasty of our team. I’ve seen all these people go through Taunton High and do their job in the field. So, I’m glad I was able to do my own tonight.”