HUDSON — Alvirne of Hudson’s softball team’s collective sigh of relief was almost discernible coming out of the dugout following its 6-4 win over Timberlane of Plaistow in a Division I first-round tournament game.

The third-seeded defending champs fell behind in the top of the first. They took the lead on a Mikayla Powlowsky single in the third only to have the No. 14 Owls knot the score in the fifth.

And, after Alvirne seemed to assume control with a four-run rally, highlighted by Jenna Giannelli’s two-run single, the Owls (6-13) closed the gap with two scores in their next trip to the plate, thanks to run-producing hits from Christian Nye and Masha Lange.

Alvirne’s advancement to Saturday’s quarterfinal meeting with Concord, a 3-2 winner over Spaulding of Rochester, seemed at risk until Broncos’ right fielder Brooke Kennedy stifled another potential Owls’ rally by throwing a runner out at first in the top of the seventh inning.

“We didn’t back down to one of the best pitchers in the state. Things might have been different without that great play in right,” said Timberlane coach James Clavette. Meaghan Bishop led off with a sharp single to right, but couldn’t beat Kennedy’s speeding-bullet throw to first. Alvirne starter Taylor Carbone then induced an infield fly before ending the game with a strikeout, her eighth.

“Nothing’s come easy for us. It’s been that way all season,” said first-year Alvirne coach Sarah Brisk. Her 15-4 club won five one-run games this season, including a walk-off win over the Owls. “You learn more from close games. It’s how you come together as a team.”

Alvirne fell behind when Lange tripled down the left field line and scored on an error in the top of the first. Three times thereafter the Owls had runners in scoring position, but were denied by fine fielding plays and some timely Carbone strikeouts.

“The first inning is always a little nerve wracking for me,” said the UMass-Amherst bound hurler who also sports a .600 batting average. “We didn’t get nervous. We’re used to close games.”

Carbone conceded seven hits, walked two and hit a batter, but became resilient in the clutch by dancing curves and risers off the outside corners.

Her freshman counterpart, Madison Bishop, pitching to older sister, catcher Meghan, allowed seven hits while the defense committed four errors. Eight underclassmen started for the Owls.

“(Timberlane) is going to be a tough team to beat next season,” said Brisk. But, right now the Alvirne coach is focused on the quarterfinal.