Tippecanoe Valley hasn't had much luck against Fairfield recently, but that could start to change on Saturday. The Vikings will head out to take on the Falcons at 11:00 a.m. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
Tippecanoe Valley not only won on Thursday, but they posted their biggest win since May 1, 2024 (when they won 16-0). They blew past LaVille 17-1. The Vikings haven't had any issues with the Lancers recently, as the game was their third consecutive victory against them.
Naomi Gaerte made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only two hits over five innings pitched. Gaerte was also big at the plate, getting on base in four of her five plate appearances with one double and one RBI. That double marked the first that she has hit this season.
In other batting news, Tippecanoe Valley let Temperance Caudill and Elise Smith run wild. Caudill got on base in three of her four plate appearances with three RBI, one triple, and one run, while Smith got on base in all four of her plate appearances with three runs and one stolen base. That's the most RBI Caudill has posted since back in May of 2024. Mackaylie Costello was another key player, getting on base in three of her four plate appearances with three runs.
Tippecanoe Valley always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .619. They are a perfect 3-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Meanwhile, Fairfield got the win against Prairie Heights on Thursday by a conclusive 12-4. The Falcons might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won six matches by eight runs or more this season.
Madison Jones was a major factor no matter where she played. She struck out seven batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned (and two unearned) runs off three hits (and only one walk). She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-5 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Preslee Caouette, who went 4-for-5 with one home run, four RBI, and one double. Another player making a difference was Jenna Fought, who went 3-for-4 with three runs and one stolen base.
Tippecanoe Valley's record is now 10-8. As for Fairfield, their record now sits at 12-7.
Fans could be in store for some top-tier slugging on Saturday. Tippecanoe Valley hasn't had any problems when it comes to power this season, having averaged 0.6 home runs per game. However, it's not like Fairfield struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 1.1 home runs. With so much power on both teams, it'll be down to the pitchers to keep the mound locked down. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
