AKRON — The Tippecanoe Valley softball team showed a little rust in its first game back from spring break Monday against the visiting Triton Lady Trojans.
While the Lady Vikings (2-2) were on break, the Lady Trojans (3-4) played five games last week, and it showed in an 18-9 victory.
"I hate this game on a Monday coming back," Valley coach John Strong said. "You never have a practice or a way to get them back into the swing of things. That's not the whole excuse, but it may be why they didn't hit right way."
Through two innings, Valley mustered just two hits off Triton freshman pitcher Brycelyn Garbison and found themselves in a quick 10-1 hole going into the bottom of the third.
In getting those 10 runs, the Lady Trojans needed just six hits, benefitting from nine walked batters and another two that were hit by pitches.
"We pretty much gave them most of their runs early in the game with hit batters, walks and a couple of fielding errors," Strong said. "We dug a big hole to try to get out of. If we hadn't done that, I think it would have ended up a real tight game."
Spotted such a lead, all Garbison needed to do was keep the runs to a minimum, which she did, allowing nine runs despite her team being outhit 14-11.
"I thought Brycelyn did a nice job," Triton coach Steve McBride said. "She threw strikes. Give Valley credit. They go up there and hit the ball."
Garbison's biggest problem was Valley junior Mariah Benzing, who finished 3 for 3 with two doubles and lifted a Garbison pitch high over the right-center field fence for a two-run shot, which subsequently rolled over Ind. 19.
"With her up their in the lineup, when you need it at the end, you never count yourself out," Strong said. "With one swing of that bat, she can change the game. She got us going a little bit."
The home run came in the bottom of the fifth, and helped Valley stave off the 10-run rule as senior Brooke O'Connor hit a two-run, two-out single to cut the lead to 15-7 at the end of five.
For Triton, it was Sabrina Kaufman that did the most offensive damage, going 2 for 4 with a triple, a double and four RBIs.
"She kind of just came alive her lately," McBride said. "She is a returning senior, and I think this was her best game to date. It's kind of what we expected out of her. It was good to see her do that."
Garbison also had a good game at the plate, driving in four runs on 3-for-4 hitting, while senior Kandace Terry went 1 for 1 with a two-run double.
"We're progressing and getting a little better as we go," McBride said. "We're young, with six freshmen and two sophomores in the starting lineup. It's kind of tough to start out, but we're going to keep working at it."
Along with youth, McBride's also trying to manage injuries, which have come early this season.
"We're just kind of scrambling along," he said. "We've really been hit with the injury bug. Our other pitcher (sophomore Mallorie Jennings) was hurt her ankle Saturday and we've had a torn ACL with (junior) Blair Johnson, who would have been our starting shortstop. We've also had a girl break her ankle and another who may have torn her rotator cuff. I've never had a season with so many injuries."
Both teams return to action Thursday, as Triton hosts Caston and Valley welcomes in Winamac.

TIPPECANOE VALLEY 18, TRITON 9
T 343 501 2 — 18 11 4
V 012 041 1 — 9 14 4
Brycelyn Garbison (W, 7IP, 9R, 7ER, 14H, 3K, 2BB, 1HR) and Allyson Brown; Whitney Sleeth (L, 2-2/3IP, 10R, 8ER, 5H, 1K, 9BB, 2HB), Kassidy Shepherd (3, 4-1/3IP, 8R, 5ER, 6H, 4K, 4BB, 2HB) and Danielle Adams, Diana Baca (7).
2B — Sabrina Kaufman (T), Garbison (T), Kandace Terry (T), Mariah Benzing (V) 2, Tenaya Shull (V), Adams (V).
3B — Kaufman (T),
HR — Benzing (V).
Records — Triton 3-4, Valley 2-2.