Franklin stops Walpole

SCHOOLS

The defense of the Franklin girls lacrosse team put a vanishing act on Walpole’s offense yesterday.

The Rebels high-octane attack came in averaging 14 goals per game, but the Panthers stout defensive unit made it disappear to claim an 8-2 nonleague road win in Walpole.

“That’s probably the best defense I’ve ever seen them play this year and in this program,” said Franklin coach Kristin Igoe. “We just pulled it together with everyone playing team defense.”

Franklin’s defense held Walpole scoreless over the first 17 minutes, but late in the first half, the Rebels found a slight crack with Melanie Weber and Alison Foley notching goals to tie it at 2 into the break. That was Walpole’s only offense as from there Franklin outscored the Rebels, 6-0, in the second half.

Keying the defense were Dana Lewandowski, Grace McDermott, Grace MacCallum and Alexandra Field, allowing four shots on net in the second half.

And when the Rebels got free, goalie Gianna Cameron, who finished with nine saves, stonewalled them. . . .

Freshman Emily Cox scored five goals, propelling Newton North to a 12-7 nonleague victory over Duxbury. ... Elle Hansen had seven goals and five assists for Cohasset in a 20-8 win over Winchester.

Softball

Kyleigh O’Donnell tossed a one-hitter, striking out 16 while also hitting a threerun homer to propel Archbishop Williams to a 5-0 shutout of Bishop Fenwick in a Catholic Conference matchup.

Grace Orcutt pitched a complete game, finishing with 11 strikeouts, for Lexington in a 7-1 victory over Melrose in the Middlesex League. ... Kayla Mayo stole four bases and scored two runs for Arlington in a 10-3 win over Wakefield.

Baseball

Nate Espelin was dominant, pitching a complete game while striking out 19 as Belmont blanked Wilmington, 1-0, in the Middlesex League.

Josh Petrucci went the distance, striking out five, to help Catholic Memorial edge Brookline, 3-1, in nonleague play.

In the Bay State Conference, Joe Mescall starred in five innings of relief for Framingham in a 14-6 win over Natick.

Justin Nadeau allowed just one hit over six innings to spark Danvers to a 6-0 Northeastern Conference win against Beverly. ... Ben Brennan’s single in the eighth inning drove home the winning run as Marblehead took a 7-6 walkoff victory over Medford.