Lucas Walters releases a pitch during a game earlier this year. (File photo by James Costello)

TIPPECANOE VALLEY 9, SOUTHWOOD 8
Ethan Yates provided a walk-off single with two strikes in the seventh, and the Vikings earned a win over Three Rivers Conference foe Southwood in Akron Monday.

Wes Melanson led the Vikings at the plate with a home run on his way to three RBIs, as part of a 2-for-3 performance. Yates also finished 2-for-3 for Valley.

Tanner Trippiedi lasted six innings, giving up 11 hits with a walk versus seven strikeouts for eight runs, six of them earned. Lucas Walters got the win pitching one inning, striking out two and surrendering two hits for no runs.

Southwood collected 14 hits to Valley’s seven in the loss. Gabe Lloyd went 3-for-4 to lead the Knights. Taylor Hayslett took the pitching loss, giving up three earned runs off three hits and four walks relieving Logan Barley in the fifth.

Southwood drops to 4-3 and 1-1 in the conference. Tippecanoe Valley improves to an identical mark, both overall and in TRC play.

The Vikings play Culver Academies Tuesday at 5 p.m.

NORTHRIDGE 4, WAWASEE 2
Wawasee collected just two hits in a Northern Lakes Conference loss to visiting Northridge Monday night.

The Warriors gave up just one run over the first four frames and led briefly at 2-1 after a two-run fourth, but the Raiders put up a run in each of the fifth, sixth and seventh innings and the fourth was all the offense Wawasee would get.

Ethan Garza and Kam Salazar finished with the Warriors’ only two hits, Salazar’s a triple. Levi Brown took the tough loss, giving up eight hits with seven strikeouts and two walks for four earned runs over six innings.

Reece Lucking finished 2-for-2 with a run scored for Ridge. Nick Logan, Logan Pratt and Ethan Huffman all drove in runs for the Raiders. Davis Enfield got the win on the mount, giving up one earned urn off two hits and two walks with 12 strikeouts in a complete-game effort.

Ridge improves to 5-5 and 2-1 in the NLC. Wawasee moves to 5-4 with a 1-3 conference mark.

Wawasee’s junior varsity suffered its first Northern Lakes Conference loss versus Northridge Monday.

Charlie Doss finished 2-for-2 with an RBI and a walk, Jonas Bailey and Lucas Ringler were both 2-for-4 for Wawasee.

The JV Warriors slip to 5-3 overall and 2-1 against conference opponents.

The Warriors travel to Bethany Christian Tuesday at 5 p.m.

MARIAN 9, GRACE 0
MARIAN 6, GRACE 4
Grace’s baseball team came up short against Marian on Monday in a doubleheader at Miller Athletic Complex.

Grace (13-22, 9-14 Crossroads League) struggled to find its offense in the opener. The Lancers were held to just three hits in the seven-inning game.

Marian, on the other hand, was efficient. The Knights (22-17, 14-9 CL) scored nine runs on 10 hits, benefitting from a trio of Grace errors as well.

The Lancers fell behind 4-0 after two innings, and Grace could never produce a comeback. In the fourth, Grace’s first two batters reached base safely but were stranded on three straight at-bats.

Jacob Sapp hit 1-for-2, and David Anderson and Mitchell Enyart also recorded a hit.

Anderson was credited with the loss despite throwing out seven batters in the first 3 1/3 innings on the mound. Josh Tew finished the game, striking out five batters and giving up two earned runs in 3 2/3 innings.

In the second game, Marian threatened early with four hits in the first two innings. But starting pitcher Houston Haney held the Knights to one run through three innings.

Grace tied the game in the second with a two-out rally. Sam Newkirk hit a two-out triple, and Hunter Ackerman drove him in with a single up the middle.

Marian scored again in the fourth to make the score 2-2, but the Lancers had another push in the fifth.

Jacob Sapp and Anderson led off the fifth inning with singles. Xavier Harris drove in the first run with a single, and Chris Griffin’s single brought in Anderson for a 4-2 lead.

Grace’s lead held until the top of the seventh. Marian put up three runs on four hits to move ahead 5-4. The Knights tacked on another run in the eighth for a 6-4 margin.

The Lancers were unable to produce a comeback, stranding their lone baserunner at first base to end the game.

Harris hit 2 for 4 with an RBI, and Anderson was 2 for 5 with two runs scored. Ackerman tallied 1 hit, 1 stolen base and 1 RBI, and Griffin finished 1 for 3 with a run driven in.

Logan Swartzentruber pitched the final 1 2/3 inning, allowing two hits and no runs.

The Lancers end the series with Marian on Tuesday at home, squaring off at 3 p.m. in a single nine-inning affair.