Gifford's homer completes Goffstown softball's comeback win over Merrimack

MERRIMACK – This was an impressive comeback.

After falling behind 5-0 in the second, the Goffstown High School softball team fired back with nine unanswered runs, as the Grizzlies utilized an eight-run sixth with junior Shannon Gifford nailing the game-winning, three-run home run during a 9-6 win at Merrimack on Wednesday afternoon.

“I thought overall it was a really good performance,” said Gifford. “The first few innings were a little shaky, but by the fifth, we started hitting it. The home run felt really good. I have been struggling a lot lately with hitting and that hit increased my confidence, which was really nice.”

The Grizzlies (8-8) tallied 15 hits and made four errors in the field, as their lineup was well balanced. Gifford (2 for 4, homer, four RBIs, run), Leea Sarvela (2 for 3, two doubles, RBI, run), Brianna Page (2 for 4, RBI, run), Olivia Brannen (2 for 3, two runs), Teghan Coyle (2 for 5, RBI, run) and Kaylee Molan (2 for 3) all came to play.

Junior first baseman Morgan Peffer led the way for the Tomahawks (10-7), going 3 for 4 with two RBIs and a run. Merrimack, which was 9-2 in its last 11 coming into Wednesday, finished with seven hits and made one fielding error.

The Grizzlies comeback started in the fifth, as Sarvela cranked a leadoff double to center. With two down in the frame, Gifford came up with a big-time, RBI single up the middle, cutting Merrimack’s lead down to 5-1.

In the sixth, Goffstown was clicking on all cylinders, putting an eight spot on the board, while posting nine hits and sending 12 batters to the plate. With one down, Grizzlies starting pitcher Kailee Still registered an RBI single to right, and during the next at bat, Goffstown came to within 5-3 on an RBI ground out by Sarvela.

The Grizzlies were far from done, posting another six runs with two outs. An RBI single through the left side by Coyle brought Goffstown to within one. Two batters later, Gifford blasted her 20th career homer in the form of a three-run shot over the fence in left-center, giving the Grizzlies the lead for good at 7-5. Freshman Tayler Watterson crossed home as a result of an error during a single through the right side by Molan, and then Goffstown took a 9-5 lead on a one-run single to right by Page.

“In the beginning, it did not look good,” said Goffstown coach Matt Fleming. “One of the things that our club has done all year long, regardless of the scoreboard, is stay in the fight even at the end of the game. With two outs in the sixth to send all those runners to the plate was pretty amazing. It was really capped off by Shannon Gifford’s three-run shot. She works tirelessly and I am proud of her.”

Merrimack was able to cut the deficit down to 9-6 with a two-out RBI single in the sixth by sophomore Erin Knauer, but the Tomahawks were not able to get any closer.

Still earned the complete-game win in the circle, giving up seven hits and six runs, but only three were earned, while not giving up any earned runs over the final five frames.

“For our pitcher to stay out there and keep fighting and work through all that craziness that was going on behind her was impressive,” said Fleming. “It speaks volumes to our kids’ ability to battle. It was a huge game by everyone on my team.”

The Tomahawks raced to out a 3-0 lead in the first inning, taking advantage of a pair of miscues by Goffstown. A one-out RBI single by Peffer gave Merrimack a 3-0 lead. In the second, the lead ballooned up to 5-0 on a one-run triple to center by senior Ashley Turcotte and a fielder’s choice RBI by Knauer.

“We struggled a little bit late,” said Tomahawks coach Greg Cochrane. “They were base hits up the middle. I would have liked to see a little bit more effort on some of those base hits. Goffstown is a good team, put the ball in play, ran hard, and took advantage of what we were not doing.”