Tewksbury High Softball Team Hangs On To Beat Marblehead, 5-3

If there ever was any doubt as to whether or not could hold up under the pressure of a big game, all doubts were erased during Monday afternoon's 5-3 state tournament victory over Marblehead.

Leading 5-1 after six innings, Benvenuto watched Marblehead mount a furious comeback attempt in the seventh inning, scoring twice to pull within two runs, and loading the bases with one out.

Undaunted, Benvenuto did exactly what she's done all year long. She relied on her defense for help.

"Our defense was awesome today," Benvenuto said after snagged a line drive and doubled a Marblehead runner off third base to end the threat and secure the win for Tewksbury. "I wasn't worried. I just tried to throw strikes and let my defense help me out. I've got a lot of confidence in them. "

Outfielders Liggiero, Missy Cordwell and Ally Greene accounted for five put outs between them and Tewksbury's infield trio of shortstop Tiffanie Marsh, first baseman Shannon McLaughlin and third baseman Katie Doherty  turned a critical, 6-3-5 double play in the sixth. also gunned down a runner at second attempting to steal.

"We made the plays," said . "We worked hard and we made the plays. We had a couple double plays, too. We did a good job (defensively)."

Offensively, the Redmen did most of their damage in the bottom of the first inning as they strung together four hits and two stolen bases to produce three runs. Greene led off with a single and stole second, and Marsh doubled her home from there. Texeira then singled in Marsh and Liggiero doubled home Texeira to make it 3-0.

Tewksbury added a solo run in the fifth after singled, stole second, went to third on an infield out and scored on Texeira's second hit of the day. The Redmen went up 5-1 in the sixth when Benvenuto singled and freshman designated hitter Chelsee Porcaro smashed a monster triple to right center to drive in Benvenuto.

The Magicians, who upset top-seeded Amesbury 7-3 on Saturday to earn a shot at Tewksbury, had another  upset on their minds again in the seventh inning, but Benvenuto and the Tewksbury defense had other ideas.

"Sherri made a great play in center field," DiRocco said. "That's Sherri. With her and Greenie out there side-by-side not much gets by them."

"We really battled back and we made the plays when we needed to," Greene said. "They surprised us a little bit in the seventh because they weren't hitting much before that. But we stepped up showed we could handle the pressure."

In spite of allowing an unearned run in the first inning, Benvenuto had carried a no hitter into the Marblehead sixth. She finished the game with only four hits allowed, walking four and striking out four.

Offensively, Liggiero led the way with three hits and an RBI, while Texeira had two hits, two runs batted in and a run scored. Marsh had a hit, an RBI and scored a run, and Hardy had a hit, stole three bases and scored a run.

Greene had two hits, stole a base and scored a run while Benvenuto had a single, a double and scored a run. Marsh had a double and a run batted in.

With the win, Tewksbury advances to the Division 2 North Sectional quarterfinals. The Redmen will face No. 3 seed Reading at 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday at Lowell's Martin Field.

"It got a little hairy, but we're going to Lowell," DiRocco said. "I'm just thrilled."

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