Playing softball under the lights often adds an air of excitement to the game, and and the made sure that was the case Monday night, coming from behind to edge Dracut, 6-5 in dramatic fashion at Memorial Field.
Benvenuto, Tewksbury's senior right hander, struck out the side in the sixth with the tying run on third, and got the final two outs in the seventh with the tying run again on third, as Tewksbury posted its third straight win to improve to 9-2 on the season.
"Oh, man, what a comeback, what a win," said an elated after the game. "That's gotta help with their confidence. That's a good team we beat. That's a good win."
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A win looked like the last thing that was on tap for the Redmen in the early going, as Dracut sent eight batters to the plate in the first inning and pounded out four runs on three hits, a walk and an error to take a 4-0 lead.
But Tewksbury's hitters didn't panic. The Redmen started chipping away with a run in the bottom of the first when senior lead-off hitter Ally Greene singled, went to second on a Brooke Hardy bunt and scored on shortstop Tiffany's Marsh's single to left.
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"Like I told the kids in between innings, we play chip away," DiRocco said. "You can't get it all back at once."
Tewksbury got two more back in the bottom of the third inning, when junior center fielder Sherri Liggiero started a two-out rally with a single, and then stole second. Liggiero scored on junior third baseman Katie Doherty's RBI single, with Doherty taking second on the throw. Sophomore first baseman Missy Cordwell then drove Doherty home with an RBI single.
The Redmen tied it at 4-4 in the fourth when Greene led off with her second of three hits on the night, stole second, went to third on a Hardy sacrifice and scored on Marsh's deep fly ball to right.
Tewksbury took the lead in the fifth wehn Liggiero walked and stole second, and Cordwell produced her second RBI single of the night. Cordwell later scored on sophomore right fielder Sam Laferriere's RBI single.
In the meantime, Benvenuto settled down from her first inning struggles and completely silenced the Dracut bats. Tewksbury's ace retired 12 straight batters from the second through fifth innings.
But things got sticky in the sixth when Dracut's Ramirez sisters opened the inning by slamming a triple and a double to pull the Middies to within one run with nobody out. Undaunted, Benvenuto struck out the next three Dracut batters to strand Ramirez at third.
"Kayla did a great job," DiRocco said. "She hit some spots and thank God he (the umpire) called them."
The drama didn't end there, however, as Dracut's lead-off hitter singled to open the top of the seventh, and went to second on an infield out. But with the tying run in scoring position, Hardy made a nifty play on a ground ball for the second out, and Greene grabbed a fly ball in left for the final out.
"We had some timely hitting and some great pitching and we played as a team and we stayed tough," said DiRocco. "I'm thrilled with this one."
Benvenuto finished with five strikeouts and only one walk, and improved her record to 9-2.
Greene led Tewksbury's offensive attack with three hits, three stolen bases, a walk and two runs scored. Cordwell had two hits and two RBI and a run scored. Liggiero had two hits, scored twice and stole two bases. Doherty had two hits and a run batted in and Laferriere had a hit and an RBI.
"It's a big week for us with two tough teams back-to-back in Dracut and Methuen, but what a great way to start it," DiRocco said.
Tewksbury plays at Methuen under the lights Wendesday night.
