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Haughs homers, drives in 4, but Lady Zs fall to 0-4 in TRC
BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS
Sports Editor, RTC
Mercedes Snapp’s two-run single in the top of the seventh put the Tippecanoe Valley softball team ahead for good, and Macy Kirchenstien followed with an RBI single in a 7-5 win over Rochester at Fansler Field Monday.
Valley never led at any point in the first six innings, and they trailed 5-4 going into the seventh.
Molly Moriarty led off with an infield single, and Corinna Stiles was hit by a Mya Musselman pitch that hit her lower leg on a hop.
Madi Smith flew out to Keyton Doran in right field. Moriarty tagged and advanced while Stiles held. Stiles then stole second, which put two in scoring position for Snapp.
Snapp had been 0 for 3 with two strikeouts up to that point. But she hit a looping liner just over Kylie Coleman’s head and into shallow left-center field for a hit that scored Moriarty and Stiles. Snapp advanced on the throw home, and Kirchenstien followed with her hit.
Moriarty had three singles and two runs scored for Valley, who improved to 2-2 in the TRC. Kirchenstien singled, doubled and drove in a run. Kayleena Agnew went 3 for 3.
Haughs went 3 for 4 with four RBIs, including a homer, for Rochester. Maddie Heinzmann and Musselman had two hits each.
In the first, Emma Howdeshell reached on an infield single off Abby Bowers and stole second and third before scoring on Kallie Watson’s grounder to third.
Coleman then singled and stole second and scored on Haughs’ RBI single to make it 2-0.
Bowers had an RBI infield single off Musselman in the second, but Coleman walked, stole second and scored on another Haughs RBI single in the third to make it 3-1.
Valley tied the game in the top of the fifth when Moriarty singled and scored all the way from first on Stiles’ double. Stiles then scored on Smith’s RBI single, but Smith was thrown out trying to advance to second to end the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, Coleman walked with one out and scored ahead of a long homer to center from Haughs to give the Lady Zs a 5-3 lead.
Bowers’ RBI groundout in the sixth scored Kirchenstien to cut the lead to one.
Rochester’s Watson started in left field. It was her first game since suffering a concussion against Logansport on April 14.
Rochester’s two seniors, Musselman and Carlee Blackburn, were honored in pregame ceremonies.
Valley’s Agnew and Smith flipped their usual positions. Agnew played catcher, and Smith moved to third base.
The game occurred one day after the teams drew each other in the IHSAA state tournament draw. The teams both received byes and will play each other in a Class 2A, Sectional 37 semifinal at a date and time to be determined.
Tippecanoe Valley 7, Rochester 5
Valley 010 021 3 – 7 14 1
Rochester 201 020 0 – 5 9 1
WP – Corinna Stiles (2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K)
LP – Mya Musselman (6 ⅓ IP, 14 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 2 K)
2B – Corinna Stiles (TV), Macy Kirchenstien (TV)
HR – Sydney Haughs (RHS)
Rochester’s Emma Sells stands at second base while Tippecanoe Valley shortstop Brayden Baney covers during the Lady Vikings’ 7-5 win over Rochester at Fansler Field Monday. (photo provided)
Watch full game here:
