NORWICH — Never a doubt, right? The unbeaten Hanover High baseball team squandered a five-run lead against winless Laconia on Tuesday night before shaking that off and walking it off on Jackson McBride’s single in the bottom of the eighth inning for an 8-7 win.

With things knotted up at 7-7 in the home half of the eighth with runners on second and third, McBride lined a single to left to score pinch-runner Freddie Mierke for the game-winner. McBride finished a home run short of the cycle for Hanover, going 3-for-5 with a double and a triple, two runs scored and two RBIs.

Sam Sacerdote earned his sixth win of the season for the Bears (13-0), pitching 3 ⅔ innings of one-run relief to close the game, striking out five against three walks. Allie Muirhead started on the bump, going two innings, striking out one while allowing a run on three hits. Ian Smith added a pair of perfect innings in relief.

Hanover built a 6-1 lead through four innings. Laconia countered with five runs in the fifth, aided by four walks and a Bears error on a would-be double play ball, to lead, 7-6. 

Now trailing, Finn Ware, who had two hits, led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk for the Bears. Ware advanced to third on a Sam Loescher single and then scored on a wild pitch for the game-tying run.

Hanover looks to remain unblemished when Milford comes to town on Friday.

Thetford 2, Montpelier 1

THETFORD — The Panthers walked off with a win in this pitcher’s duel against the Solons.

It was 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh when JD Farrell started the game-winning rally with a double. Mason Fahey followed with a sharp ground ball to second base, which was mishandled enough to allow Farrell to come around with the game-winning run for the Panthers (7-4).

Boone Fahey went the first six innings for Thetford, striking out 11 while walking just one and allowing a run on three hits. Farrell pitched the seventh, allowing just one hit to earn the win on the mound while also scoring the game-winning run.

“What a great win. Boone and JD were excellent on the mound; they did an excellent job keeping Montpelier off balance,” Thetford coach Phil Chaput said. “We played great defense and had some timely hitting. Hopefully this win can propel us to a strong finish over the last two weeks of the regular season.”

Xander Oshoniyi was 2-for-3 with a run scored and two stolen bases. Owen Goodrich and Dempsey McGovern each went 1-for-3. Boone Fahey was 1-for-3 and drove in the other run for Thetford.

The Panthers host Randolph on Thursday.

White River Valley 12, Northfield 1

SOUTH ROYALTON — The Wildcats used five-run innings in both the third and fourth to end this one in five. WRV (9-3) hosts Mill River on Thursday.

Bellows Falls 16, Woodstock 1

WOODSTOCK — The Wasps fell to 3-7 and are next in action at Springfield on Thursday.

Springfield 7, Rivendell 5

SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — The Raptors are now 4-7 after falling to the Cosmos. Rivendell hosts Mount St. Joseph on Thursday.

Hazen 15, Oxbow 1

BRADFORD — The Olympians dropped to 2-10 with the loss to the 9-1 Wildcats. Oxbow hosts Lake Region on Thursday.

SoftballMerrimack Valley 15, Hanover 2 (5 innings)

NORWICH — The Pride scored 10 runs in the first inning and never looked back against Hanover (1-11).

Both Bears runs scored in the fourth inning in a rally started by Abby Campfield’s leadoff triple. Bella Hunt had a RBI single. Campfield and Sophie Wise each had two hits for Hanover.

The Bears are back at it on Wednesday, hosting Plymouth.

Bellows Falls 10, Woodstock 2

WOODSTOCK — The Wasps dropped their fourth straight, falling to 1-5. Woodstock hosts Twin Valley on Thursday.

Boys LacrosseDerryfield 19, Hanover 1

HANOVER — The powerful Cougars, ranked near the top of the NHIAA D-II standings, overpowered the Bears.

Jack Wilkinson scored a goal for Hanover. Goalie Henry Cotter made 16 saves. Hanover (4-6) visits Alvirne on Wednesday.

Woodstock 16, Mount Anthony 15

WOODSTOCK — The Wasps bounced back from Monday’s one-goal loss to Middlebury to edge the Patriots. Woodstock (7-5) hosts Burr & Burton next Tuesday.

Bishop Brady 17, Stevens 2

CLAREMONT — The Cardinals fell to 0-8 and will travel to Coe-Brown on Thursday.

Boys TennisHanover 6, Bishop Guertin 3

HANOVER — The Bears were able to withstand the absence of No. 1 singles and doubles player Sam Ames to earn the win.

Hanover’s depth turned up with wins in the third-sixth singles matches. Ryder Wilson earned an 8-5 win at No. 3. Henry Werner (8-6), Ian Holmes (8-4) and Trevor Lichtenstein (8-3) also won.

Nick Pais stepped in at No. 1 singles, but fell 8-6 in a tough matchup. Pais and Holmes then partnered for an 8-4 win in doubles. Wilson and Alex Orsino then added an 8-3 win in their doubles match.

Hanover hosts Keene on Thursday.

Burr & Burton 7, Hartford 0

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — The Hurricanes were outmatched by a very strong Bulldogs team, falling to 2-6.

Hartford now looks ahead to its senior day on Friday at home against Mount Anthony.

Girls TennisHartford 5, Mount Anthony 2

BENNINGTON, Vt. — The Hurricanes fell in a tough matchup with the Patriots, snapping a three-match winning streak.

Wren Parker earned a straight-set win at No. 1 singles for Hartford, 6-1, 6-1. Jaklyn LaFountaine and Harper Fallon added a win at No. 1 doubles in the match of the day, 6-2, 6-7 (4-7), 10-5.

Hartford will host MSJ for senior day on Friday.

Hanover 7, Bishop Guertin 2

NASHUA — The Bears improved to 11-2 with the victory and close out the regular season at home against Derryfield on Friday.

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