The Valparaiso University baseball team jumped ahead early as Kyle Schmack (Wanatah, Ind. / South Central) cracked a first-inning home run, but it was all Alabama State thereafter as the host Hornets buzzed by the Beacons 9-1 on Sunday to salvage a split in a four-game series that was highlighted by Valpo’s doubleheader sweep on Saturday in Montgomery, Ala.

How It Happened

• Valpo jumped ahead after the game’s second batter when Schmack delivered a solo shot in the top of the first.
• Alabama State tied the game by manufacturing a run in the second, then took the lead with two in the fourth and one more in the fifth.
• The Valpo bats were quiet throughout, and Alabama State extended the lead to 5-1 with a run in the seventh. It wasn’t until the bottom of the eighth that the hosts really broke it open, scoring four times to account for the game’s final margin.

Inside the Game

• Schmack’s home run was his first of the season and the 19^th of his Valpo career.
• Valpo was limited to three hits as singles by Carson Husmann (Hannah, Ind. / South Central [Bradley]) and Alex Thurston (Fowler, Ind. / Benton Central) were the only other knocks besides the Schmack big fly.
• Defense was a Beacon bugaboo on Sunday as Valpo committed three miscues and seven of the nine Alabama State runs were unearned.
• Five Valpo pitchers toed the rubber, including starter Adam Guazzo (Huntley, Ill. / Huntley), who allowed three runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk while striking out three in his four-inning collegiate debut. Grant Jablonski (Mishawaka, Ind. / Mishawaka) covered 2 1/3 innings and was charged with two runs (none earned) on five hits and one walk.

Up Next

Valpo (2-2) will visit Tuscaloosa, Ala. on Friday to take on Alabama beginning at 4 p.m.