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# Merrimack softball shows resolve in playoff win over Londonderry
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/merrimack-softball-shows-resolve-in-playoff-win-over-londonderry/
- Published: 2019-05-30T12:00:37.000Z
- Updated: 2019-05-30T12:00:37.000Z
- Description: MERRIMACK – Coaches always preach to players the importance of waiting for their number to be called. On Wednesday, being ready paid off for junior pitcher Emma Pfeifer of the Merrimack High School softball team, as she only gave up one run in the final five innings during a 5-3 triumph over visitin
- Author: Trevor Wenners
- Tags: Division I, Londonderry, Merrimack, playoffs, softball, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

MERRIMACK – Coaches always preach to players the importance of waiting for their number to be called.

On Wednesday, being ready paid off for junior pitcher Emma Pfeifer of the Merrimack High School softball team, as she only gave up one run in the final five innings during a 5-3 triumph over visiting Londonderry in the first round of the Division I tournament.

Pfeifer entered the game in the third for star pitcher Emma Camberlain, who injured her right hand on a line drive back up the middle. In the fourth, Pfeifer showcased her composure and mental toughness, giving up no runs after Londonderry loaded the bases with no outs.

“Emma understands how she works better than anyone,” said Tomahawks coach Greg Cochrane. “She is a classic pitch-to-contact player. Sometimes, she gets away from that a little bit. Once we reel her back in and get her hitting her spots, she can deliver in those spots and induce pop outs and get ground balls when we need her to, especially in those jam spots.”

The eighth-seeded Tomahawks (12-7), who made one error, finished with 10 hits, headlined by a 3-for-3 effort by sophomore Erin Knauer (two doubles, two runs). Senior Brenna Davenport (2 for 3, two doubles, RBI) and junior catcher Kaeley Blades (2 for 2, double) also played a pivotal role in Merrimack’s lineup.

On the other side of the field, junior Giovanna Komst (2 for 3, double, run), senior Delaney McGurn (2 for 3, double, run) and freshman Olivia Chau (2 for 3, double, run) tallied standout performances for the ninth-seeded Lancers (11-8), who made two errors.

In the bottom of the first, Knauer recorded a one-out bunt single to third, and then Davenport unloaded on a double to right-center. During the next at-bat, Camberlain picked up an RBI ground out to second, as Lancers second baseman Miranda Galan made a phenomenal stop.

It was not smoothing sailing all the way through for Merrimack. Londonderry took a 2-1 lead in the second on a clutch two-out, two-run single to center by sophomore Aliceyn Lacey. The rally started with a double by McGurn and a single by Chau, which both occurred with one down.

With the game knotted at 2-2 heading into the fifth, the Lancers took another one-run lead on a one-run double down the left-field line by senior Alyssa Vaillancourt, scoring Komst, who led off the frame with a double to left.

With their starting pitcher out of the game and facing a late deficit, it would have been easy for the Tomahawks to cave, but instead they showed a great deal of grit. Knauer led off the bottom of the fifth with a double down the left-field line. An RBI double off the left-field fence by Davenport knotted the game at 3-3.

“The word resolve is what we are all about,” said Cochrane. “We are a resilient group. We do not get down and our lineup is very strong. We can hit 1 through 9\. We understand what pitchers are trying to do to us.”

Blades did it all for the Tomahawks in this must-win game. Defensively, she picked off a runner at second from behind the plate in the fifth. Offensively, she delivered a big-time leadoff double to left-center in the sixth. Freshman pinch runner Ashlynn Cassetty scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch, and then the hosts took a 5-3 lead on a sacrifice fly to left by senior Ashley Turcotte.

“Our goal for the season was to be able to host this first-round game,” said Cochrane. “That is a big deal for us. The home-field advantage and the energy that we saw definitely play a part in getting the girls pumped up.”

The Tomahawks move on to a quarterfinal-round battle at top-seeded Exeter (17-1) on Saturday at 4 p.m. During the regular season, Merrimack gave Exeter everything it could handle during a 2-1 Blue Hawks’ win on May 16.

“That is a good ball team right there and they deserved the No. 1 spot,” said Cochrane. “I have my homework to do in terms of my scouting and what I am going to present to the girls. We will have our work cut out, but I can promise it will not be a lay down. Our team will come ready to play and we will compete.”