Lowe, Saugus softball beat Swamspcott; inch closer to league title

SWAMPSCOTT – This was a typical pitching performance from Saugus High’s Nikki Lowe. The bonus was her offense.Lowe hurled a 3-hit shutout and, batting in the second spot in the order due to the absence of Amanda Dicenzo (school play), added two hits and two RBI to lead the Sachems past Swampscott, 5-0, Friday night, in a crisply-played game at the Forest Avenue Fields.”She throws a variety of pitches and she mixes them up well,” Saugus coach Bobbie Finocchio said. “And she has great control.”Saugus (12-3; 11-2) is closing in on a Northeastern Conference South division championship. The Sachems have three conference games left, against Gloucester on Monday, then Winthrop and second-place Marblehead to close out the season.”This was huge,” said Finocchio. “Marblehead has played fewer games than we have, but they’re right behind us.”Swampscott’s (6-9) sights are focused on making the state tournament, and the Big Blue must win four of their next five to qualify.”That’s our goal,” Swampscott coach Frank Kowalski said. “We’re a very young team and we’re working hard. It just seems like we’re not getting any breaks.”The Big Blue certainly has a talented enough pitcher in Angela Vousboukis, who matched Lowe’s shutout through the first four innings and retired 10 Saugus hitters in a row until Rachel Forgione led off the top of the fifth with a single to left. Stefanie Terrazzano brought her home one batter later with a high double to left field and the Sachems led, 1-0.Swampscott’s best chance to score came when Merry Ball led off the bottom of the fourth with a double to left-center, but Lowe struck out the next two batters (her only Ks in the game) and then induced a groundout to end the threat.With two outs in the fifth, Bridget Wong slashed a double to left-center, but Lowe again worked out of the inning with a popout.Saugus added another run in the top of the sixth. Melissa Toomey drew a lead off walk and then Lowe reached on what was supposed to be a sacrifice bunt that she beat out. After a fielder’s choice, Jackie Doherty laced a triple to the gap in right-center. Pinch-running for Lowe, Emily Yanchun scored, and Allyssa Furtado also came around, but she was called out for missing third base.The Sachems put the game away with three runs in the top of the seventh. With two on and two out, Toomey drew a walk with a terrific 9-pitch at bat, and then Lowe dropped a single into center to score two runs. Toomey came home on an error to make the score 5-0.