Triton pitcher Brycelyn Garbison prepares to fire a pitch Monday.

BOURBON – Triton softball coach Steve McBride sees his team as a work in progress.

Tippecanoe Valley softball coach Daryl Shoemaker sees progress being made by his team.

Both mentors saw things to like Monday evening.

McBride, in the end, saw a little more to like as the host Trojans topped the Vikings by a 6-2 final.

Triton, which evened its season mark at 1-1, cashed in with a four-run sixth inning to take control. The Trojans, who missed out on several scoring chances earlier in clinging to a 2-1 lead, got a big two-out, two-run single from senior Hannah Jennings in the key frame and took advantage of three Valley errors.

“At the end of the day it’s a win and I’m happy with that,” said McBride, whose team lost its opener to Rochester 10-6 on April 6. “Jennings and Sechrist (Nicole Sechrist) hit it well tonight and that’s good.”

McBride, who guided the Trojans to sectional and regional championships a year ago, still saw plenty for his team to work on.

“We’re still searching,” McBride remarked. “We graduated our No. 3 and 5 hitters from last year and Heather Stichter (who hit a grand slam last week against Rochester) was not here tonight. We’re struggling a little bit and just not hitting well.  We had dinks and dunks tonight, but give Valley credit. Their pitcher was effective.

“We kicked it around some too. We have to get better defensively and just play cleaner. Some of our kids are a little unsure of themselves right now. We just need to work our way through this and I can’t overreact. I think that we are going to be okay. It’s just going to take us a little time.”

Kassidy Shepherd was strong in the circle for Valley.

Valley, which drops to 0-3, took a 1-0 lead in the second frame. The Vikings, who had not played since a 3-2 loss at Maconaquah on March 31, used a walk and two Triton errors to plate a run.

Triton scored a pair in the fourth frame to take a 2-1 lead. Leadoff hitter Taytium Hargrave slapped an RBI single with two outs to give the Trojans the lead.

Valley did not get its first hit of the contest until junior leadoff hitter Katie Gunter smacked a double to right to lead off the sixth inning. The Vikings had three hits in the final inning, including an RBI single by senior Darian Dotson for the 6-2 final.

“I expected a close game tonight and honestly I expected us to win,” said Valley coach Shoemaker. “Our girls have been practicing hard and putting a lot of time in. They have come a long way.

“One bad inning (the sixth) cost us. We played six good innings, but that one changes the game. We hit better tonight and I was happy with Kassidy (pitcher Kassidy Shepherd). She is a rock, just solid for us.

“We’re a fairly young team (just three senior starters). We still have little things to work on. We can’t give a team as many base runners as we did tonight. We have to work on the mental side and cut back on our mental errors.”

Leadoff hitter Taytum Hargrave squares to attempt a bunt.

Triton starting pitcher Courtney Jennings allowed no hits in the first four innings. The freshman struck out one, walked one and retired the final seven Valley hitters that she faced. Senior Brycelyn Garbison pitched the final three innings for the Trojans, striking out four and walking none.

Senior Kassidy Shepherd went the distance in the circle for Valley. She struck out two and walked one.

Freshman Nicole Sechrist had two hits, including a double, and reached base in all three at bats to lead the Trojans. Senior Hannah Jennings, the Triton cleanup hitter, had two hits.

The Trojans got a great diving catch by right fielder Lexi Lemler in the first inning and a fine stab of a wicked liner by second baseman Kayla Kreft in the fourth frame.

Valley defensive gems included a fine catch by left fielder Katie Gunter to end the third inning and save a run and an outstanding stab of a smoked liner by third baseman Mia Gunnels in the second inning.

Triton (1-1) plays at Westville Tuesday, at Goshen Thursday and at Wawasee Saturday. Valley (0-3) plays at Winamac Thursday, hosts Plymouth Friday and plays at Glenn Saturday.