The Tippecanoe Valley Vikings will face off against the Western Panthers at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. Tippecanoe Valley has given up an average of 7.6 runs per game this season, but Monday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Tippecanoe Valley's last matchup with Rochester could've gone either way, but unfortunately the same can't be said for the pair's contest on Friday. The Vikings came up short against the Zebras, falling 21-3. The Vikings' defeat signaled the end of their three-game winning streak.
Tippecanoe Valley saw five different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Mackaylie Costello, who went 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Western entered their tilt with Rossville on Wednesday with five consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with six. They came within a single run of losing the streak, but they secured a 4-3 W against the Hornets. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Panthers have posted since June 7, 2024.
Kylie Miller spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned runs on five hits and racked up eight Ks.
On the hitting side, Brynley Erb was incredible, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, two stolen bases, and two runs.
Western pushed their record up to 19-3 with the victory, which was their 15th straight at home dating back to last season. The home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.5 runs on average over those games. As for Tippecanoe Valley, their loss dropped their record down to 9-7.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Monday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Tippecanoe Valley has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 9.1 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Western struggles in that department as they've been averaging 9.9 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Tippecanoe Valley suffered a grim 9-2 defeat to Western in their previous meeting back in May of 2024. Will the Vikings have more luck at home instead of on the road? Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.
