Danville hasn't had much luck against Peoria Notre Dame recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The Vikings will host the Irish at 4:00 p.m. The contest will give Danville their first taste of in-conference action this season.
Things were looking good for Danville after they put the first runs on the board on Tuesday, but unfortunately for them things went downhill from there. They fell just short of Charleston by a score of 9-8. The Vikings have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Ka'Leah Bellik and Ava Foster stepped up to the plate in a big way. Bellik scored a run while going 3-for-5, while Foster scored a run while going 2-for-4. The team also got some help courtesy of Gracie Briggs, who scored a run while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances.
Meanwhile, Peoria Notre Dame made easy work of Richwoods on Monday and carried off a 10-1 win. The result was nothing new for the Irish, who have now won three games by eight runs or more so far this season.
Lexie Dallinger-Eaker spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on three hits and racked up 14 Ks. She has been consistent : she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Ella Tady and Gianna Cowan did most of the damage at the plate: Tady went 3-for-4 with two runs, one triple, and one stolen base, while Cowan scored two runs and stole a base while going 3-for-4. Those three hits gave Cowan a new career-high. Elizabeth Leustek was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.
Peoria Notre Dame kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 14 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in six consecutive matches.
Peoria Notre Dame now has a winning record of 5-4. As for Danville, they now have a losing record of 2-3.
Tuesday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Danville hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .321. However, it's not like Peoria Notre Dame struggles in that department as they've averaged .317. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Danville suffered a grim 17-3 defeat to Peoria Notre Dame when the teams last played back in May of 2024. Will the Vikings have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.