Big early inning leads Tipp past Xenia
In what seemed like an eternity at the plate early in the game, Tippecanoe used a 14-run second inning to set the tone for a 17-0 rout of Xenia last week to run their record to a perfect 4-0 on the season. The Red Devils also have gone all four games without giving up a run in the season.
“The defense continues to be solid early in the year. It was the fourth game in a row with no errors,” Tipp coach Charles Tackett said about the early season success. “If you take care of the ball, good things will happen.”
Ella Henn gave up a leadoff triple to the Buccs, who was left stranded at third in the opening inning. She never gave up another hit on the night. Henn stranded two runners in the first inning, then gave up a walk in the second inning, but she was erased on a double play before the Red Devils offense went to work in their second at-bat.
Henn walked to lead off the Tipp second inning and Jocelyn Shelton singled on a bunt attempt to bring around pinch runner Jaina Drum with the games first run. But Tipp was far from done.
Rylan Elms then singled, and Lilly King walked. But during King’s at-bat, Shelton scored on a wild pitch. Elms scored on a passed ball.
Gracie Raiff then singled and Abby Chaney reached on an error to bring home King to make it 4-0.
After Raiff scored on a wild pitch, Emily Aselage walked, and Kyla Fry doubled in two runs to give Tipp a 7-0 lead still in the second.
Henn came back with a sacrifice fly to score Fry and three batters later, Shelton scored on a wild pitch. King walked and Davis reached on an error to score two more runs and make it 11-0.
Raiff brought home Davis with a single, then two more runs came into score when Fry drove home a pair of runners with a single, giving Tipp a 14-run inning and putting the game out of reach early.
Tipp added to their lead in the third inning with walks to Henn, Shelton, Drum and Charlize McCormick. Roo Snell then singled in two runs and Abby Martin singled to score McCormick, increasing the Tipp lead to 17-0.
On the day, Tipp had nine hits. Fry led the Red Devils two hits and four runs batted in.
Henn finished with the shutout and another win for the Red Devils.
“She has been dominant in the circle early in the year,” Tackett said. “All of our pitchers so far this year have done a great job of throwing strikes. We have been playing excellent defense behind them.”
