Embroiled in a scoreless battle into the seventh inning Wednesday evening at Stetson, the Valpo softball team was unable to come out victorious, as the host Hatters got a two-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the seventh to account for the only scoring in the 2-0 final.

How It Happened

• Perhaps Valpo’s best chance to score came in the top of the first, as freshman Ryan Milkowski (Olathe, Kan./Olathe West) and sophomore Taylor Tonoian (Saugus, Calif./Saugus) drew consecutive one-out walks. But a flyout and a strikeout stranded the pair of runners on base.
• Stetson had a strong scoring opportunity in its half of the first as well, putting runners on second and third with one out, but Valpo starting pitcher Kelsie Packard (Beloit, Wis./Turner [Rock Valley]) forced a groundout and a foul-out to keep the game scoreless.
• Sophomore Peyton Moeder (Shawnee, Kan./Mill Valley) reached on an infield single with one out in the third and eventually stole second, but was unable to advance any further.
• Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for Stetson in the bottom of the third with one out. Packard induced an infield fly for the key second out, and then got a fly ball to deep left to strand all three runners and keep the game scoreless.
• Junior Addi Burke (Mesquite, Texas/John Horn) drew a two-out walk in the seventh for Valpo’s first baserunner since the third inning.
• The first two outs of the bottom of the seventh were recorded in order as the game looked destined for extra innings. But a two-out single was followed by a walk-off homer from Lizzie Shubert to give the Hatters the win.

Inside the Game

• Wednesday was just the second time this year that Valpo has been shut out.
• Moeder’s stolen base was her ninth in as many attempts this year. The sophomore has the most stolen bases of any player in the MVC who hasn’t been caught once.
• Packard fell to 3-3 with the complete-game loss. The junior tallied a season-low two strikeouts.

Next Up

Valpo (7-7) heads to THE Spring Games this weekend to conclude its trip to Florida, where it will play five games over three days. Action begins on Friday against Saint Louis at 10:15 a.m. CT and Niagara at 12:45 p.m., and games will be broadcast live on FloSoftball.