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Methuen's softball team, which defeated Lowell twice in the regular season, built a 2-0 lead only to fall on an unearned run in the seventh in the preliminary round of the Division 1 North tournament. Becca Armstrong was 2 for 4 for the Rangers, who finish the season 11-10. 

METHUEN — It’s usually how you finish that counts, and that’s exactly how the Methuen softball team is looking at their season.

Carissa Cicolini pitched seven innings, giving up just one earned run on five hits to lead Methuen to a 2-1 victory over Billerica at home yesterday. Cicolini, a junior, is in her first year as a full-time varsity player after making some spot starts last year. "She has done a heck of a job," Methuen coach Jason Smith said. Cicolini struck out six Billerica batters and walked two. The only run she gave up came in the seventh inning when she allowed a solo home run with one out. The junior, however, recovered nicely, getting a ground out and strike out to end the game. "She had a lot of movement on her pitches," Smith said. "She doesn't rely on her fastball. She relies on her movement and she had that working tonight." Methuen scored took a 2-0 lead in the third. Three singles to start the frame loaded the bases. Becca Armstrong then came to bat and stroked an RBI single to center. "Armstrong has been an RBI machine all year," Smith said. "With runners in scoring position in her up that's her job and she knows what to do." Paige Fleming then scored the second run on a sacrifice fly to center. Methuen (9-8) needs just one more win to qualify for the state tourney.

Central Catholic recorded its fifth straight shutout last night, 2-0 over Methuen, as  Meg Donegan and Kayla Maloney combined for a 14-strikeout one-hitter. Brianna Martin led off the game with a home runs and scored both runs for the surging Raiders (15-1).

Trailing 8-1 in the fifth, Methuen's softball team rallied for a dramatic 9-8 victory over Lowell. Rebecca Caterino paced the late offensive charge with two hits and two RBIs and scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh on a Melissa Leach single. Paige Fleming started the seventh with a double and scored the tying run,  Courtney Bradley and Bryanna Giorgio both had two hits, and Chrissy Scionti got the win with two innings of scoreless relief.

LAWRENCE —  Other than reflecting back on a disappointing sophomore campaign, Central Catholic junior third baseman Karissa Forzese didn’t need any extra impetus to improve at the plate this spring.