Facing off in the first Indiana Northern State Conference game of the season, the Tippecanoe Valley and Knox softball teams took part in an exciting contest on Thursday. The action featured both sides doing their fair share of damage, but in the end, Knox escaped with a 6-4 win.
Valley starter Mackaylie Costello got into a bit of trouble in the circle during the top of the first inning, giving up two runs on two hits. She was able to settle in afterwards, finishing off the frame with her first strikeout of the game. Costello attempted to help her cause with a one-out double in the bottom of the first, but she would be stranded at second as the next two outs were made.
A controversial sacrifice fly allowed the visitors to extend their lead in the top of the second. With one out and a runner on third, the ball was hit to right field and caught. It appeared that the runner left the base a few seconds early, but neither umpire deemed this to be the case. Instead of the final out of the frame being recorded, it kept on going, and a second run eventually crossed to make it 4-0.
The Lady Vikings got one of those runs back in the bottom half, as catcher Kaitlyn Threlkel led off the inning with a walk. With two outs and Kylie Cunningham running for the sophomore, KC Shriver came through with a double into left to make it a 4-1 game heading into the third.
Dalynne Bussard replaced Costello in the circle the next time Knox took the plate and got the three outs she needed in a hurry, striking out two in the process. In the bottom half of the third, the Lady Vikings were able to do some quick damage. Costello started things off with a home run to left with one out in the inning, and a pitch later, Bussard followed suit by sending one out to center. On just two pitches, the Lady Redskin lead had been trimmed down from three to one.

    Tippecanoe Valley senior Mackaylie Costello winds up for a pitch during Thursday evening's home game against Knox...Nieter
After giving up a leadoff single, Bussard struck out two more en route to another scoreless inning that kept momentum on Valley’s side. The next time the Lady Vikings took the plate, a pair of errors allowed them to take the lead. First, a fly ball dropped by the Knox shortstop allowed Malaynie Costello to reach base, and a couple of batters later, a fly ball hit to left by Shriver was dropped, which allowed her to score. With three innings left, it was now anybody’s ballgame.
It didn’t stay tied for long however, as with one out in the top of the fifth, Joie Montague left the yard with a shot to left-center field to put the Lady Redskins back on top. Valley was held scoreless in the bottom half of the frame as a 6-4-3 double play ended the inning and sent things into the sixth.
The Lady Vikings were able to turn a double play of their own, this one being a 1-3, the next time Knox was up to bat to hold them scoreless and keep it a one-run game. Valley was able to put both the tying and go-ahead run on base in the bottom of the sixth, but the team was unable to cash in on the opportunity. The home side now had just three more outs to either tie or take their first lead of the game.
The task became a bit more difficult in the top of the seventh, as cleanup hitter Cheryl Barnes led off the inning with an absolute rocket over the left field wall to double the lead and make it a 6-4 game.
Things looked incredibly promising for the Lady Vikings to begin the bottom of the seventh, as doubles by Kahlyn Manns and Mackaylie, followed by an intentional walk to Bussard, loaded the bases with nobody out. However, the next two hitters struck out and an incredible catch at third base ended the rally as well as the game.
Tippecanoe Valley (2-2, 0-1 INSC) will compete in the Lebanon Invite on Saturday.