For the second straight day, Brady Renfro (Antigo, Wis. / Antigo) delivered an extra-base knock in Valpo’s final opportunity at the plate, but this time his two-run double was not enough as the Beacons stranded the potential tying run in scoring position in an 8-6 loss to Missouri State on Saturday afternoon at Emory G. Bauer Field. The Bears trotted out four different relievers in the bottom of the ninth alone but eventually recorded the final out to even the series at one victory apiece.

How It Happened

• Missouri State started the scoring with a second-inning double, but Valpo responded as Alex Thurston (Fowler, Ind. / Benton Central) lifted a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at one.
• The Beacons snagged the lead thanks to a two-run homer by Carson Husmann (Hanna, Ind. / South Central [Bradley]) in the third.
• Missouri State got one back in the fourth, but it was the fifth frame where the game turned in favor of the Bears. Missouri State hit two home runs in the inning including a three-run shot by Zack Stewart to make it 6-3 Missouri State.
• Three walks, two wild pitches and two stolen bases helped Missouri State produce a run without a hit in the sixth. That formula repeated in the seventh as the guests picked up one run on one hit, an inning that included three walks and three steals.
• It was Valpo’s turn to be the beneficiary of free passes in the bottom of the seventh as the Beacons began the frame with back-to-back walks. Kaleb Hannahs (West Terre Haute, Ind. / West Vigo) delivered a run-scoring single to cut the lead to four at 8-4, but Missouri State induced an inning-ending double play to minimize the damage.
• Valpo stayed in the game thanks to a quality relief outing by Josh Spencer (Woodinville, Wash. / Woodinville [Tacoma]), who allowed just one hit and two walks over 2 1/3 innings.
• A single by Brady Nowicki (Big Bend, Wis. / Mukwonago [Indiana Hills CC]) and a double by Hannahs set the table for Renfro’s two-run two-bagger that sliced the lead in half. Schmack singled and Renfro held at third, then Schmack stole second to put the tying run in scoring position with only one away. The Bears got back-to-back strikeouts to get out of it.

Inside the Game

• Hannahs collected three hits, while Renfro and Husmann also enjoyed multiple-hit games.
• Husmann’s home run was his sixth of the season and the 29^th of his collegiate career including his time at Bradley. He has been on a long ball tear of late with four of his six this season coming in the last six games.
• Each team had 10 hits, while Valpo played errorless defense for the third straight game.  

Up Next

Valpo (13-24, 4-10) will close out the series against Missouri State on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Emory G. Bauer Field. The game will air on ESPN+.