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METHUEN — Having already clinched its spot in the Division 1 playoffs for the 11th straight year, the Methuen softball team forced Andover to its regular-season finale to secure a berth of its own.

Whittier's surging softball team tuned up for this week's Methuen Tournament with an impressive 6-2 victory over Andover. Cassey Glode (2 for 2)  drilled a two-run homer in the first inning and scored three runs and Jen Dube hurled a fine four-hitter for the win. The Wildcats (16-2) face Lawrence Friday in the first round of the tourney.

Going from a three-run deficit to a lead and back to a deficit in the sixth inning, Andover had the last laugh via a three-run seventh-inning eruption that led to an 11-9 upset of Tewksbury. Shannon Tully ripped a three-run triple in the sixth followed by Taylor Farris' successful suicide squeeze bunt. Leadoff hitter Molly Awiszus (two hits, RBI) sparked the seventh inning uprising and pitcher Caroline Kiezulas stranded two Tewksbury runners with a game-ending strikeout to wrap up the win.

Jen Powers fired five innings of one-hit ball before leaving early for the prom and Caroline Kiezulas (2 innings, 3 K's, 1 hit) was stellar in relief as Andover blanked Dracut, 2-0. Power Alex Allocca and Nicole Ericson had the RBIs. Second baseman Molly Awiszus made a terrific running catch to end the game.

Shannon Tully and Taylor Farris stroked back-to-back home runs in the first inning for Andover softball, which posted a 16-2 victory over Lawrence. 

Methuen's softball team qualified for the state tournament for the 11th straight year by defeating Andover 8-5. Courtney Bradley (2 for 3) led the way for the Rangers (10-5) with a home run and four RBIs. Nicole Perusse added two hits and two RBIs.

Andover junior Taylor Farris threw a nifty one-hitter, striking out nine and walking just one as the Warriors blanked Notre Dame 5-0. Shannon Tully was 2 for 2 with an RBI and Farris scored twice.

Sophomore Meaghan Leary had run-scoring singles in the third and fifth innings, plated two runs with a base hit in the seventh, and added a double but Andover dropped a 10-5 verdict to a rejuvenated Amesbury squad.

ANDOVER — Dina Hagigeorges' two-run single helped spark Andover softball to its first victory of the season, a 5-1 win over Haverhill yesterday afternoon.

"We are getting our hits at the right time," said Golden Warriors (1-1) coach Steve Tisbert. "We have managed some timely hitting and playing very well on the defensive end."

Taylor Farris had a single, double and triple but ii wasn't enough for Andover in an opening-season loss at Lowell, 9-7.  Freshman Mimi Olney also added three hits for the Golden Warriors.