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Meaghan McCarthy's RBI single in the bottom of the eighth squeezed Andover past Lowell, 3-2.

Katie McCarthy led off the inning by reaching base on an error. Jeanette Doucette laid down a bunt that was bobbled, allowing McCarthy to advance to third and Doucette to reach first safely. After an intentional walk to slugger Tricia Martin, Meaghan McCarthy ripped a single through the hole between first and second to drive home the winning run. Pitcher Kathleen Cheney totalled nine strikeouts for the Warriors.

SALEM | Marblehead High ace pitcher Courtney Colantuno strapped an ice pack on her right shoulder immediately after last night's game. She needed it.

Colantuno & Co. have played three games in three days and, in terms of competitiveness, the Salem Witches have played them as tough as anybody else in the Northeastern Conference. Fortunately for the Magicians, they had more than the usual incentive as the players' mothers rode the bus with the team to Mack Park for the second straight year. Marblehead is 2-0 in those games.

The Vikings (5-7 overall, 3-2 Cape Ann League) received timely hitting from Kerri Carleton, Caitlin Stevens, Lauren Sergeant, and Katie McCance. Marion Dulleau pitched all 14 innings, allowing eight hits and two walks. She recorded nine strikeouts.

The North Andover softball team has been a mystery that Amesbury cannot solve over the past two seasons.

A familiar pattern played out again yesterday as the Scarlet Knights made plays in key situations while the Indians helped North Andover with two costly errors in a 4-1 loss.

Murphy's Law was in full effect for the Gloucester softball team in yesterday's matchup with Lynn Classical.

Everything that could have gone wrong, did go wrong for the Fishermen.

Gloucester committed eight errors in the field, misplaying a number of routine fly balls and pop-ups.  The Fishermen also had their hot bats cooled off by Rams pitcher Jenny Garrity in a 15-3 loss at Burnham's field. The loss broke Gloucester's four-game winning streak, a streak in which they outscored their opponents 34-18.

Samantha Norman had never played third base at the varsity level before. But with her teammate, Northeastern Conference all-star Ashley White, out sick yesterday, Marblehead High softball coach Johnny Gold called on Norman, his junior left fielder, to take her place.

Freshman Marykate Helas belted a two-run triple and finished 3 for 4 with four RBI as the Tanners (8-2) brushed aside Saugus 6-3. Junior Kellie Multner stepped in at third base and had a crucial RBI while Sam Terenzoni had two hits. Nicole Wilson shined on the hill with five strikeouts and no earned runs allowed as all three Sachem scores were unearned.

The visitors (10-1) spoiled a pregame ceremony in which the Lady Crusader captains, Courtney Ramunno and Jen Comeau hung a banner in memory of Jack Tierney (father of Fenwick AD Bob Tierney) on the centerfield fence.

Finding offense has been the Achilles' heel for the Manchester Essex softball team this season.

When the Hornets get base runners, they have been struggling to bring them in. However, that wasn't the problem yesterday against Masconomet. Powered by a six run first and second inning, the Hornets pounded the Chieftains, 19-1, at Sweeney Park.

Rockport (3-5) junior ace Tia Nelson didn't hurl another no-hitter but the Vikings will take the effort. Nelson held North Andover (5-2)-a Division 2 North finalist last spring-to five hits and struck out five as the Vikings beat the Knights for the first time in Rockport softball history.