Big inning carries Tipp softball to victory

While starting pitcher Ella Henn was taking care of business on the mound, her Tippecanoe softball teammates were holding onto a slim lead heading to the sixth inning.

In that frame, the Red Devils exploded for seven runs to close out a 10-0 run-rule victory over Piqua to keep them unbeaten on the season.

With the win, Tipp moves to 6-0 on the season, including 4-0 in the MVL which keep them tied with Greenville for the lead.

“Piqua has some teams they have played that were stronger than the teams we have played so far, so I knew it was going to be more of a challenge,” Tipp coach Charle Tackett said. “The game was tight throughout then we started to time up their pitching toward the end.”

“Ella pitched well, giving up one hit with 14 strikeouts. With what she had to deal with last year, I know she wanted to have a really good senior year.”

It was scoreless until the third inning when Tipp scored a pair of runs. Lilly King led off with a double and two outs later, Abby Chaney doubled to right bringing home King and giving Tipp a 1-0 lead.

Emily Aselage then delivered with a single to bring home Chaney and the Red Devils were leading early.

An inning later, Tipp struck again when Henn helped herself with a single and pinch runner Jaina Drumm ran for her and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt. Following a single for Rylan Elms it was King who hit a sacrifice fly to right field making it 3-0. Tipp led the bases loaded and took their lead into the fifth inning.

In the seventh, the floodgates opened for the Red Devils. Jocelyn Shelton singled to lead off, then King reached on an error.

With two outs, Gracie Raiff singled to load the bases and Chaney singled to drive in a run. Asleage then doubled to left to bring King and Raiff to push the Tipp lead to 6-0. The Tipp senior then came into score when Kyla Fry singled and Martin tripled to score two more, pushing the lead to 9-0 with the game-ending runner at third.

Drum then tripled to center to bring home Martin and ended the game with the ten-run margin.

“I wish I would have had the chance to coach these senior girls for more than just this year,” Tackett said about the makeup of this year's team. “These girls are pretty good.”

It was another sweep for the Red Devils as they finished their week with a sweep of Bellefontaine. They knocked off the Chiefs 16-3 behind three hits and five runs batted in for Snell, while Charlize McCormick added three RBIs in the Tipp win. Drum pitched a complete game four hitter for Tipp.  The Red Devils came back the next day and cruised 21-0 over West Carrollton. Henn pitched a complete game for the win, with Snell driving in five more runs on three hits, Lilly King, Kyla Fry and Rylan Elms each had three hits. Aselage recorded four hits in the win.