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Sara McCarthy and Candace Waldie each had two hits including long triples but North Andover lost to Newton North in its tourney opener, 8-4.

AANORTH ANDOVER — With the state tournament on the horizon, North Andover needed to find some offense. If yesterday was indication, the search might be over.

After being held to two runs or fewer in five of their past seven games, the Scarlet Knights erupted with a first-inning five spot before running past Billerica 7-3 in the consolation game of the North Andover Invitational tournament.

Candace Waldie drove in one run with a double, then triple and scored on an overthrow as North Andover earned a state tourney berth with a 2-0 win over Triton.

With the tying runs on base, Pentucket senior Danielle Ouellette made a running catch at the fence to preserve a key 3-1 win over North Andover. In the sixth, shortstop Sarah Dickinson threw out two runners at the plate.

With nothing but a good feeling supporting the move, North Reading head coach Rusty Russell swapped his captains on the left side of the infield, moving Alex Alois to third base and Jenn Shields to shortstop.

Sarah Erlandson pitched a nifty two-hitter, striking out 13, as Georgetown stopped North Andover's six-game win streak with a 5-3 victory. The Royals rallied with three runs in the seventh on RBI hits by Taylor Nelson, Cally O'Connor and Hannah Birnie.  

Freshman Kim Crucioli didn't strike out anyone but didn't have to in a complete-game, no-walk effort to lead North Andover to a 3-2 win over first place Newburyport. The Knights (8-3) got two hits and key RBIs from both Candace Waldie and Danielle Fournier. Alex Cunningham had an outstanding defensive game in right field.

North Andover's softball team won its fourth straight, 10-4 over Ipswich. Gwen Vozeolas was 2 for 4, scored twice and had an RBI for the Knights (7-3) and Candace Waldie was 2 for 3, scored twice and had an RBI. Freshman Courtney Green (2 for 4) had two RBIs. 

Two doubles from tri-captain Candace Waldie, including the game-winner in the ninth inning, earned North Andover a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Lynnfield. A quartet of freshmen contributed mightily for the Scarlet Knights: leadoff hitter Sarah McCarthy had two hits and a stolen base, Courtney Green (single) was solid at catcher, Haley Kosheff added strong outfield defense and Kim Crucioli (complete game seven-hitter with no walks) picked up her fifth win of the year.

North Andover standout Candace Waldie had two solo home runs and scored the winning run in the seventh when she was intentionally walked to lead off the inning and doubled home by Danielle Fournier in a 4-3 victory at Rockport.