Nashua South pitcher Cate Marvin (7) celebrates her 200th career strikeout with Panthers catcher Nicki Gates after the final out of the Battle of the Bridge win over Nashua North at Rivier's Raider Diamond Tuesday night. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA — The Battle of the Bridge is never dull, not even in a 15-0 game.

That was the final score Tuesday night, with Nashua South pounding out xx hits and taking advantage of six North errors for the win. However, even the average fan was rewarded at Rivier Univiersity’s Raider Diamond if they stayed until the end, because they were able to witness Panther pitcher Cate Marvin’s 200th career strikeout on the final out of the game.

“I was getting a little nervous,” Marvin said. “But Nicki’s (her catcher, Gates) got me, my team’s got me. … This is the best game of the year, this honestly is something I look forward to all season.

“Kind of amazing (strikeout 200). Senior year, good to go, I’m going to play in college next year (at Nichols). … This (win) is kind of an energy booster for the rest of the week.”

Marvin allowed just one base runner, North’s No. 9 hitter Elin Maffee, who hit a line drive to center with two out in the third that was misplayed into a double. Marvin wild pitched her to third but Mafee was stranded at third on a foul pop to end the frame.

“I’m proud of Cate,” said North coach Jamie Trudel, who coached Marvin in Nashua Park-Rec softball. “Two-hundred strikeouts is great, you know? It’s a good thing for her.”

And she’s been a great thing for the Panthers for four years.

“From day one as a freshman, it’s been all work,” South coach Kevin Handy said. “Blue collar, clock in, clock out. She wanted to be great. She wanted to have her name as one of the leaders when she leaves here. Two-hundred strikeouts, that’s amazing, but she’s all about the team.

“But I’m so proud of her. I always say, New Hampshire softball, we’ve got some good teams here. So to get 200, in D1, that’s amazing.”

Meanwhile, the Panthers pounded out 13 hits, taking advantage of eight North errors as Titans starter Neha Lingadal deserved a better fate. They sent 13 to the plate in a 10-run second that featured five North misuces, but two big blows – an RBI triple by Brooke Berger and a booming two-run homer to left by Cara Leblond.Leblond went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and three runs scored while Berger went 3 for 3 leading off, scoring three runs with three RBIs, and No. 2 hitter Maliyah Richer-Valentin also had two hits, two RBIs and three runs scored as well. The top three in South’s lineup – Berger, Richer-Valentin and Leblond all scored three times.

Catcher Nicki Gates also had a hit driving in two runs, as the top four hitters drove in nine of South’s 15 runs.

No. 7 hitter Mia Estremera went 2 for 2 with a run.

“I’m senior heavy this year, and those girls set the tone,” Handy said of the top five his lineup, all seniors. “From the opening inning, they wanted to hit tonight.”

And for good reason. The Panthers are 3-8, but just one game behind a tourney berth with seven games left, including today’s trip to Keene.

“We’re right in this thing,” Handy said. “Any day this team, I’d put them right up there with anybody. They’re so competitive.”

Nashua North third baseman Taina Anaya stretches to grab a throw as Nashua South’s Shirley Njau begins her slide safely into third during Tuesday night’s Battle of the Bridge at Rivier’s Raider Diamond. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Meanwhile, it’s a different world at North (0-11), as the Titans are learning to crawl before they can walk. After the disasterous second inning, though, they held South to just one run and had two Lingadal pitched two scoreless innings with sound defense behind her.

Was it Battle of the Bridge nerves at the start?

“I don’t think they were (nervous),” Trudel said. “I think they were into the game, and errors lead to more errors. We have no seniors, so next year we’re going to be stronger. The outfield settled down some, I’m thinking next year will be a much better team. They practice hard, they love this game, and I’m proud of them. They never give up.”

And, as Trudel already knew, neither does Marvin, who said getting No. 200 in front of her youth mentor “was kind of a full circle moment.”

And the circle is where Cate Marvin is at her best.