The Valpo softball team finished out the Frost Classic in Chattanooga, Tenn. on Sunday afternoon, falling 5-4 to Ohio.

How It Happened

• Ohio’s first four batters of the games all scored to give the Bobcats a quick 4-0 lead.
• Valpo responded immediately in its first time at the plate to even the score at 4-4. Freshman Cici Wilson (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles East) delivered a two-run single and classmate Kayden Krug (Milford, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) followed with a two-run triple to tie things up.
• Ohio looked to reclaim the lead in the top of the fourth, getting runners to second and third with one out. Freshman Sydney McDermott (Stout, Ohio/Portsmouth West) entered in relief in the circle and got a line drive to third, where sophomore Kim Rodas (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon) snagged it for out number two and then dove to tag the bag ahead of the runner’s return for a double play to escape the inning.
• Ohio threatened again in the sixth, loading the bases with one away, but McDermott was able to induce a grounder back to the circle, where she instigated a 1-2-3 double play to end the frame.
• The Beacons had their best opportunity to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with two outs, but a groundout ended that threat.
• A two-out RBI single for the Bobcats in the top of the seventh proved to be the decisive tally, as the Beacons were retired in order in their final turn at the plate.

Inside the Game

• After playing no one-run games over the season’s first two weekends, three of Valpo’s five games at the Frost Classic were decided by a single run.
• Krug entered Sunday just 1-for-7 at the plate to date in her collegiate career, but went 2-for-3 against the Bobcats with her first career RBIs and the first triple of the season by a Valpo player.
• Wilson has a team-best six RBIs on the season after her two driven in Sunday.
• Sophomore Kam Utendorf (Columbus Grove, Ohio/Columbus Grove [Black Hawk College]) went 2-for-3 as well, her fourth multi-hit game of the season. Through three weekends, Utendorf is hitting a team-best .419.
• Freshman Anna Wilming (Columbus, Ohio/Olentangy Orange) started in the circle and threw the first 3.1 innings. McDermott took the tough-luck loss in relief despite giving up just a single run in her 3.2 innings of work.
• Valpo’s defense turned three double plays on Sunday, just the fourth time in program history it has tallied at least three twin killings in a single game.

Next Up

Valpo (3-11) continues early-season action at the Hoosier Classic in Bloomington, Ind. next weekend. The Beacons will face the same schedule both Saturday and Sunday, taking on Bowling Green at 10 a.m. CT and host Indiana at 12:30 p.m. CT both days.