Valpo Softball starting pitcher Jenna Edwards (Winchester, Ky./George Rogers Clark [Chattanooga State C.C.]) delivered perhaps her best performance of the season Friday in the series opener against Illinois State, but Redbird starter Morgan Day was just as strong, as Valpo came out on the short end of a 1-0 final score.

How It Happened

• Valpo’s best chance to score on Friday came in its first turn at the plate. Senior Carly Trepanier (Manteno, Ill./Manteno) walked, sophomore Brittany Anderson (East Chicago, Ind./Bishop Noll) singled and senior Jaymee Lawton (Goodyear, Ariz./Desert Edge [Utah Valley]) drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases with one out. But the Redbirds’ first baseman made a diving catch on an infield looper for the second out, and a pop-up would keep it a scoreless game.
• Both teams stranded a runner in scoring position in the second before Illinois State scored the lone run of the game in the top of the third. Shannon Felde drew a one-out walk, eventually stole second and would score on a two-out RBI single from Emme Olson.
• The Redbirds looked to add to their lead in the sixth, getting a runner to second with nobody out. But Edwards induced a foul-out before registering back-to-back strikeouts to keep it a 1-0 game.
• Valpo threatened in the bottom half of the sixth, as Lawton drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on an Illinois State error with two away. But the Crusaders would strand a pair of runners on base, and go down in order in their last time at the plate.

Inside the Game

• The loss was Valpo’s second defeat by a 1-0 score in MVC play this year. Drake was responsible for the other such defeat.
• Edwards put together perhaps her best outing of the year despite taking the loss on Friday. The junior surrendered just three hits, matching her fewest in a start this year, and tied a season best with 10 strikeouts.
• Edwards’ 10 Ks are the most by a Valpo pitcher since Kelsie Packard fanned 11 on April 24 last season at Loyola.
• Trepanier and Lawton drew two walks apiece on Friday, the only Crusaders to reach base multiple times. Trepanier now owns 63 career walks, ninth-most in program history and just one shy of a tie for seventh, while Lawton moved into a tie for 10th in the same category with her 62nd career free pass.
• Anderson extended her hitting streak to five straight games with her first-inning single.

Next Up

Valpo (15-28, 4-20 MVC) closes out the regular season with a doubleheader against Illinois State on Saturday, with first pitch of game one coming at noon. Both games can be heard live on WVUR (95.1 FM, Valparaiso). Saturday is also Senior Day, with the careers of Lawton and Trepanier being celebrated in a pregame ceremony beginning at 11:40 a.m.