Softball Recap: Tolono Unity Now 7-1 over Last Eight Games

Rockets

Margin (Wins)

03/31/25 @ Oakwood	19
04/07/25 @ Rantoul	18
04/14/25 vs Paxton-Buckley-Loda	16
04/15/25 vs Okaw Valley	15
04/22/25 @ Fisher	13

Tolono Unity barely beat Tri-Valley the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Rockets were the clear victors by a 12-2 margin over the Vikings on Saturday. Considering the Rockets have won 14 matches by more than seven runs this season, Saturday's blowout was nothing new.

Lindy Bates was a major factor no matter where she played. On the mound, she struck out nine batters over five innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off five hits. Bates was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with two runs, one triple, and one RBI. That triple marked the first that she has hit this season.

In other batting news, Grace Bickers and Sophia Beckett did most of the damage at the plate: Bickers went a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and two RBI, while Beckett went 2-for-4 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs. That home run was Bickers' first of the season. Shelby Smith was another key player, going 1-for-3 with one home run and two RBI.

Tolono Unity always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .613. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.

Tolono Unity has been performing incredibly well recently as they've won seven of their last eight games. That's provided a nice bump to their 20-4 record this season. Those victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.1 runs on average over those games. As for Tri-Valley, this is the second loss in a row for them and nudges their season record down to 15-4-1.

Looking ahead, Tolono Unity will look to defend their home field on Monday against St. Thomas More at 4:30 p.m. The Rockets are facing the Sabers at the right time seeing as the Sabers are stuck on an 11-game losing streak. As for Tri-Valley, they will face off against Clinton at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. The Vikings will also cruise into their next contest with the timing on their side: the Maroons will have lost three straight heading into Monday's matchup.