Softball: Classical explodes in fifth to best unbeaten Salem

Rebounding from a tough loss to Revere on Wednesday, the Classical softball team used a five-run fifth inning to knock off previously unbeaten Salem, 6-3, at Grace Rogato Field on Friday.”We knew it would be a battle coming in with Salem being 5-0,” Classical coach Chris Warren said. “They are as solid as anyone in the league.”The Rams (4-2, 1-2 Northeastern Conference/North) took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a solo homer by Fallon Gaudet against Salem starter Sarah Chasse. It stayed that way into the fifth when Classical blew the game open.Chelsea Bartlett (2-3, RS, RBI) drove home one run before Jenny Garrity’s bases- clearing double put the nail in Salem’s coffin. Mackenzie Coppinger got the win, striking out eight and allowing six hits.Julia Jennings drove home a pair for Salem and Stephanie Garcia had the other RBI for the Witches.Winthrop 11, Danvers 7At Danvers, the Vikings (4-2, 2-1) prevailed in see-saw game that saw them score four runs in the top of the seventh to break a 7-7 tie.Abby Belcher was 1-for-2 for Winthrop, but she hit a bases-loaded triple in the seventh. She also knocked in another runHaley Benson (1-for-3, double, run, RBI), Andrea Martucci (2-for-4, RBI) and Taylor Brown (2-for-5, double, run, 2 RBI) also stood out for Winthrop.Sophomore Alex Ferri went the distance. She gave up 10 hits, walked four and struck out eight. Only five of Danvers’ runs were earned.PMA 12, Tech 2At Methuen, the Tigers, 0-6, trailed 3-2 going into the fifth before PMA exploded for three runs in that inning, and then tacked on six in the sixth.Shanel Bird went the route for Tech, striking out three.Offensively, Stayca Contreras had an RBI double. Coach Beth Mercaldi singled out shortstop Alissa Fournier and freshman catcher Tori Park as playing well defensively.Beverly 5, Revere 1At Revere, in eight innings, Hannah Pitman led off with a single and came around to score the winning run in the top of the eighth.The Panthers (2-2) got a big hit from Marina Babcock, who was 2-for-4 and knocked in two runs in the four-run eighth.Sarah Pezzullo went all the way for Beverly, giving up two hits and striking out six.St. Mary’s 15, Cambridge 2At Cambridge, the Spartans (5-2) pounded out 18 hits and used three different pitchers to get the win over the Falcons. Victoria Viger was 2-for-2 with two RBI and a stolen base while Angela Dandreo had a pair of hits and two RBI. Michelle Macchione also had two hits and drove in a run.Shawsheen 4, Fenwick 1At Billerica, errors proved to be costly for the Crusaders (2-4) as they saw a 1-0 lead disappear thanks to defensive miscues.Abby Curran had an RBI double in the second that scored Meredith Ross with the Fenwick run.Gloucester 7, Marblehead 6At Gloucester, both teams had 15 hits, but it was the Fishermen who pushed across a run in the bottom of the seventh to win. Ari Freddo had a homer for the 3-2 Magicians.In other action, North Reading beat Lynnfield, 9-1, and Saugus defeated Swampscott.