The Londonderry High School softball team’s start to the spring season came with a bit of a scare, as the Lancers had to come from behind late to earn an extra-inning win.
Pitcher Elisabeth Kearney began her final season in the Lancers circle in a position she rarely faces. Down by three runs with three innings left, and having to battle back for a 5-4 victory.
Londonderry hosted the Salem Blue Devils on Monday afternoon, April 14, and found itself trailing by three runs without a hit through four innings before the offense broke through and briefly took the lead.
Salem answered back, tying the game in the sixth inning, where it remained until the bottom of the eighth. That’s when left fielder Paige Secor tripled, driving in the winning run.
Kearney pitched the entire game and earned the win, throwing nearly 120 pitches. She allowed five hits and two earned runs, walked just one batter, and struck out 13 over eight innings.
Seeing the Lancers struggle at home is rare. The team has not lost a game since 2024, and its last home loss came on April 11, 2024 – a 4-3 defeat to Winnacunnet. Kearney pitched four innings in that game as a sophomore, allowing just one run.
Against Salem, the Lancers showed why they are two-time defending Division I state champions, extending their winning streak to 34 games.
Salem’s first run came in the second inning on two Londonderry errors – a dropped third strike and an errant throw. The Blue Devils added another in the fourth on a groundout after a leadoff single, a rare hit off Kearney.
Londonderry’s offense struggled early despite making solid contact, with several balls hit directly at Salem fielders.
A single and a double in the bottom of the fifth put the Lancers in a tough spot, trailing by three with three innings remaining. That’s when the offense finally broke through against Salem’s pitcher.
With two outs in the inning, Londonderry rallied for four runs, beginning with a walk and a hit-by-pitch. Allison Chambers recorded the team’s first hit, followed by a bases-loaded single by Shannon Crowley that drove in two runs.
Kearney then helped her own cause with a double, bringing in the go-ahead runs and giving the Lancers a 4-3 lead heading into the sixth.
Salem responded in dramatic fashion, as its leadoff hitter blasted a home run to center field in the sixth, tying the game at 4-4 and forcing extra innings.
The game was decided in the bottom of the eighth. Ginny Flaherty led off with a double to right field, and after two outs, Secor delivered a fly-ball triple to left, driving in the game-winning run and sparking a Lancer celebration.
Londonderry finished with seven hits, seven strikeouts, and two walks.
The Lancers are scheduled to play at Keene High School on Wednesday, April 15, followed by their second home game on Friday against the Portsmouth Clippers.