By Chris Paul
Last week, the Londonderry High School Softball team tacked on two more victories with a two-run win over the Portsmouth Clippers, on the road, and a 7-3 win over the Merrimack Tomahawks at home.
On Tuesday, May 16, on the seacoast, the Londonderry girls took a 4-0 lead into the fifth inning, but Portsmouth charged back, scoring three in the fifth and had another unanswered run in the sixth to head into the final inning tied at four.
In the seventh, the LHS bats struck for five runs with two triples, a double, and a home run, to secure a 9-7 victory.
Senior Lauren Laudini pitched five and a third innings for the win, with Mya Gaspie helping out for the remaining two and two-thirds.
The pitchers combined for five strikeouts, one walk and 13 hits.
Junior lead-off hitter, Olivia Cutuli, had an inside-the-park home run on a fly to right in the final inning for two runs to secure the win.
Freshmen Virginia Flaherty and Riley Campo each hit triples in the game, while seniors Makenna True and Kaitlyn McHugh both hit doubles to help with the victory.
Overall, the Lancers had 13-hits, struck out just once, and had one base on balls.
The following day, at home, the Lancers played a far less stressful game against the Merrimack Tomahawks, taking a 6-1 lead into the fifth inning and winning 7-3 for their eighth straight win.
Londonderry had 11 hits in the game, striking out six times, and walking two times in the victory.
Gaspie pitched five innings and was given the win, striking out three, walking one, and allowing six hits.
At the plate, Cutuli, Flahery, Laudani, and Nina Covino all had two hits in the game.
The Lancers hope to have a clean sweep in the month of May and will finish the final week of the regular season with road games against Windham and Dover High Schools and a home contest against Alvirne.
The Dover Green Wave has just two wins this season, the Windham Jaguars sit at 9-7 and the Broncos have a 9-6 record.