East Union’s season-best winning streak came to an end Thursday at Northgate Softball Complex, but another streak lives on.

Visiting Oakdale has now won the last 14 meetings with the Lancers, and this one was doozy. The Mustangs overcame an early seven-run deficit in the Valley Oak League finale, prevailing, 11-10.

It was a far cry from the pitchers’ duel the last time they squared off, with Oakdale squeaking out the 3-1 win at home.

In the rematch, Oakdale (7-5 VOL, 14-10 overall) rallied for four runs in the sixth inning to take the lead for good.

“Both times we played them, they were close games,” EU coach Dylan DeBrouwer said. “When we played them the first time, we weren’t really swinging the sticks. We’re hitting a lot better these last seven or eight games and doing much better offensively.

“Today, we made a couple of mistakes that hurt us. Even with the lead we had early, I knew it wasn’t safe, because that’s a good coach and a good team over there. To be honest, I felt like we probably should have won that game, but I’m proud of how we are finishing the season going into playoffs.”

The loss mars terrific efforts from four-year varsity player Leah Altstadt and Cal Baptist-bound Mikayla Simpson on senior night. Altstadt went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a run. The second baseman also had a defensive highlight for Oakdale’s final out in the top of the seventh, diving while fully stretched to her left to stop a sharp grounder from Cal Poly-committed Madi Bohannon before making the throw to first.

Simpson contributed an RBI and two runs to East Union’s early onslaught and pitched two innings in relief, striking out three.

Junior Lily Pickering took the loss, pitching the first three innings and the final two. She fired six strikeouts and turned a big double play just moments before Altstadt’s web gem, snagging a line drive off the bay of Jayci Volonte and forcing out Reese Donaldson — who was on her way to second on a steal attempt — at first base.

Caliyah Lopez went 2-for-4 with two steals, two runs and an RBI. Sophomore Savanna Lopez reached on all four of her plate appearances, drawing three walks, scoring twice, stealing four bases and legging out an infield single. Savanna Lopez helped keep the Lancers (4-8, 15-13) within range in the sixth inning when she robbed Audrey Romiti of a home run to center field.

“We have some pretty good athletes on the field,” DeBrouwer said. “We have one in center field who took a home run away — she has done that twice this year. They were just ready to play defensively.”

Both teams had their share of errors, however, leading to eight unearned runs combined.

Oakdale committed six errors in the first three innings. East Union only needed three hits to plate 10 runs in that span, capitalizing on six walks and two hit batters.

“That was the worst game we’ve played, but I’m so proud of how they were able to comeback,” Oakdale coach Larry Loger said. “The one thing about this team is that we can hit. We just had 14 hits in our (10-8) win against Manteca (on Tuesday). I’ve been coaching for about 25 years, and that is the biggest comeback we have ever made.”

The Mustangs belted 13 hits against East Union.

Bohannon finished 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and three RBIs before going down with an ankle injury while chasing down a shallow pop fly in right center field. in the bottom of the seventh inning. Volonte went 3-for-5 with three runs, and Pacific-bound Jaelyn Lee contributed a run and two RBIs in a 3-for-4 effort.

Lee was Oakdale’s starting pitcher but was replaced after two innings, as she competed with an injury.

Junior Emily Thomason came through in a big way for the Mustangs, pitching the final five innings for the win.

“Emily is a junior, and she’s the next one up,” Loger said. “That’s how we’ve been doing it — we’ll have a pitcher up until she graduates, and there is always somebody ready to replace her.”

Both teams are now preparing for the postseason. Brackets won’t be revealed until May 9, and the first round is set for May 14.

East Union is a shoo-in as an at-large qualifier — only the top three placers in the VOL get automatic berths — thanks to its strength of schedule.

“I tried to challenge them early, because I knew league was going to be challenging,” DeBrouwer said. “We had a couple of close games that we could have won. Going into playoffs, I believe the VOL prepared us. It’s a really challenging league with good hitters, you face good arms and you have good coaches. So, I feel like we’re ready to go.”