MANCHESTER — None of the runs go down as earned in the scorebook, but there wasn't anything easy about the way the Hopkinton baseball team scored four times on Saturday.

The top-seeded Hawks got all of their runs during a two-out rally in the fourth inning and pitcher Sam Bonifant made that stand with a complete-game shutout to beat No. 3 Campbell, 4-0, in the Division III championship at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.

Campbell starter Connor Sahlin cruised through the first three innings and got the first two outs in the fourth before he ran into trouble. An error by the Campbell second baseman kept things alive in the fourth and the Hawks (20-1) took advantage by pushing across four runs.

“I think we played great defensively for five out of the seven innings,” said Campbell coach Jim Gorham. “We made one mistake. It opened the flood gate and we couldn't shut it.”

That was all the support Bonifant needed. He went the distance on the mound for Hopkinton, struck out two, walked one and gave up just four hits (all singles) to the defending champs.

It was a pitchers' duel over the first three innings. Bonifant gave up just one hit over the first three stanzas and Sahlin, who finished with seven strikeouts, had a no-hitter going with two out in the fourth before things fell apart.

It was Sam McManus who got things going for Hopkinton when he drew a walk with two outs in the fourth.

“Coach told me to be patient, wait for them to throw you a good one,” McManus said. “It paid off.”

Hopkinton coach Dave Chase said the reputation of McManus, who hit .660 two years ago, may have preceded him.

“Nobody wants to pitch to him,” Chase said. “I told him 'Let them walk you and we'll get the runs in behind you.'”

The first run came home two batters later when Matt McCormack reached on an error and then Bonifant drove in two with a single to left field that made it 3-0.

Bonifant stayed away from Sahlin's slider and worked a 2-2 count. He then got the pitch he wanted.

“I knew the fastball was coming,” Bonifant said. “I was able to capitalize on it.”

Bonifant was the only player in the game with more than one hit. He was 2-for-3 with a double in the sixth.

The last run scored when Matt Gleason, who was running for Bonifant, was gunned down stealing home but the Cougar catcher couldn't hold on to the ball and the run counted to make it 4-0.

Campbell (16-5) never got a runner past second base after that as Bonifant and the Hawks went into lock-down mode. The lefty gave up just two hits and walked one over the final three innings as the Hawks captured their first title since 2000.

“We weren't afraid to lose,” Chase said. “They came focused and ready to play baseball.”

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Mark Quirk may be reached at mquirk@unionleader.com.