The Valpo softball team opened up the Connie Claussen Classic in Omaha, Neb. Thursday afternoon, falling 8-0 to host Omaha.

How It Happened

• Omaha scored two runs in the bottom of the first and two more in the second to take a 4-0 lead.
• The Beacons got back-to-back singles to lead off the top of the third from sophomore Kam Utendorf (Columbus Grove, Ohio/Columbus Grove [Black Hawk College]) and senior Kayla Skapyak (Macomb, Mich./Dakota), but were unable to get the lead runner past second base.
• The Mavs closed the scoring with a four-run fourth inning. Valpo got a runner to third base in the top of the fifth in an attempt to extend the game, but the runner was erased at the plate on a squeeze attempt.

Inside the Game

• Five different Beacons picked up one hit apiece to account for Valpo’s five hits as a team.
• Utendorf finished the day 1-for-2 at the plate, boosting her batting average to .419.
• Freshman Natalie Bush (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) had a pinch-hit double in the fifth inning, the first extra-base hit of her collegiate career.
• Freshman Sydney McDermott (Stout, Ohio/Portsmouth West) started in the circle and took the loss, throwing three-plus innings.

Next Up

Valpo (5-14) continues action from Omaha with two games on Friday. The Beacons will rematch against the host Mavs at 1 p.m. before taking on Kansas City at 3:30 p.m.