GOFFSTOWN — The Goffstown baseball team worked the count and took advantage of free passes to earn a 3-1 win over Route 114 rival John Stark of Weare Monday.

Sharp-eyed Grizzly batters earned seven-pitch leadoff walks, the bane of any baseball coach, in the first and third innings and quickly converted them to runs in support of Taylor French’s complete-game pitching performance.

The junior threw just 68 pitches while striking out five without surrendering a walk and conceding four hits as Goffstown (10-2) won its third straight game in preparation for hosting undefeated Portsmouth this afternoon on the Larry Emerton Ball Field. The defeat was the second in a row for the Generals (6-5).

Goffstown’s Tyler Small led off the home half of the first with a walk. Two pitches later, on a hit-and-run play, Matt Woodward walloped a belt-high fastball well into the woods behind the left field fence. It was the senior’s first varsity dinger.

“At first I was actually just trying to protect Tyler’s steal, but my eyes got big looking at that high fastball,” said Woodward. “It felt good coming off the bat and I was surprised it got out that fast.”

Hitting third in Goffstown’s batting order, Woodward led off the third inning with a seven-pitch walk and eventually scored from third on an errant pitch, giving the Grizzlies a three-run lead.

Generals ace Derek Goldbrick (3-2) walked five, struck out four and gave up six hits in six innings of work. The walks came back to haunt him.

“He pitched well, otherwise. But against a team of this caliber, they took advantage of the free passes,” said John Stark coach Dennis Pelletier.

French, meanwhile, improved to 3-1 in his first complete game of the season.

“Trying not to walk anyone is key. This is the first game this season I haven’t walked anybody,” said French.

Goffstown outfielders Carter Chouinard and Woodward each made fine running catches on well-hit balls. Shortstop Connor Hujsak started a nifty double play. Neither club made an error.

“Making the plays in the field and not throwing any walks was key. And Taylor pitched a great game,” said Goffstown coach Adam Lawrence.

French threw a first-pitch strike to 16 of the 24 batters he faced. The righty moved his fastball up and down the strike zone.

“In other starts, I gave up hits by leaving my fastball waist high,” said French. “The key for me today was keeping it high or low and on the corners of the plate.”

John Stark’s lone run came in the fourth inning. Brett Patnode led off with a single. He went to third on Noah Greene’s double and came home on Goldbrick’s infield groundout.