Vikings
| 04/10/25 @ Armstrong | 2 |
| 04/08/25 vs Peoria Notre Dame | 5 |
| 04/07/25 @ Paris | 15 |
| 04/01/25 @ Charleston | 8 |
| 03/31/25 @ LeRoy | 2 |
| + 3 more games |
The Danville Vikings will head out on the road to take on the Oakwood Comets at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Danville is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.4 runs per game this season.
Danville gave up the first runs last Thursday, but they didn't let that get them down. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 2-1 win over Armstrong. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Vikings have posted since May 15, 2024.
Deana Linares spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered a run (which was unearned) on four hits and racked up nine Ks.
On the hitting side, Danville's win was truly a team effort as four different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Olivia Scaggs, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with one RBI. Ka'Leah Bellik also deserves some recognition as she hit her first double of the season.
Meanwhile, Oakwood waltzed into their match on Monday with two straight wins... but they left with three. They were the clear victors by an 11-3 margin over the Warriors. The result was nothing new for the Comets, who have now won four games by eight runs or more so far this season.
Caydence Vermillion made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She pitched 4.1 innings while giving up just two earned runs off two hits. Vermillion was also big at the plate, scoring a run and stealing two bases while going 2-for-4. What's more, she posted two doubles, the most she's had since back in March.
In other batting news, Oakwood got a massive performance out of Lainee Smith, who scored three runs while going 2-for-3. Smith continues to improve, besting her previous point total in each of the last three games she's played. Bella Bradford was another key player, scoring a run and stealing two bases while going 2-for-3.
Oakwood was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .414. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their batting average total in three consecutive contests.
Oakwood pushed their record up to 6-6-1 with the victory, which was their third straight at home. The home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.7 runs over those games. As for Danville, the victory got them back to even at 4-4.
Tuesday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Danville hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .320. However, it's not like Oakwood struggles in that department as they've averaged .328. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Danville took their win against Oakwood in their previous meeting back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 12-2 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Vikings since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
