The Valpo softball team picked up right where it left off two weekends ago as the Beacons returned to action Friday at the Scotsman Invitational in Clinton, S.C. Valpo opened tournament action with a 5-1 victory over Monmouth, and turned right around to hold off host Presbyterian, 4-3. The Beacons' current four-game winning streak is the program's longest since February 2022.
 
How It Happened – Monmouth

• The Hawks got on the board first, plating an unearned run in the top of the third.
• Valpo wasted little time in responding, posting a crooked number in its half of the frame. Marissa Jackson (Willis, Mich./Huron) led off the inning with a single and Lyna Vasquez (Moreno Valley, Calif./Valley View) picked up a base hit of her own two batters later.
• Kaia Garnica (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Mack Gallagher (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East [MSU Moorhead]) took full advantage, driving a 3-1 pitch to right-center to clear the bases. Azalya Lopez (Corona, Calif./Eleanor Roosevelt [MSU Moorhead]) followed with a run-scoring single to give the Beacons a 4-1 lead.
• The result was secure from there, as only one Monmouth runner reached scoring position in the final four innings. Gallagher added another RBI to cap the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the fifth, plating Madison Vrastil (Oak Forest, Ill./Andrew), who had led off the frame with a single.

 
How It Happened – Presbyterian

• One more crooked number was all that Valpo would need against the hosts, and the Beacons got such an inning in the top of the second. With the bases loaded and one out, Kayden Krug (Milford, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) delivered a two-run single to put the Beacons on top for good.
• Krug went on to steal second base, and an errant throw down allowed Jackson to scamper home and make it 3-0. Later in the inning, Vasquez connected on a single to score Krug and finish up the four-run inning.
• Valpo was limited to one runner in scoring position over the final five innings, but the four-run second proved to be enough. Presbyterian's first hit of the game was a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth to halve the lead.
• A pair of doubles for the Blue Hose in the bottom of the seventh brought PC to within 4-3 and the potential winning run to the plate, but Erin Metz (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) closed the proceedings with a strikeout to complete the 2-0 day.

 
Inside the Games

• Valpo has won its last four games, the program's longest winning streak since rattling off five consecutive wins Feb. 12-19, 2022.
• The result against the hosts was a flip from last year, when the Beacons lost 6-1 to Presbyterian.
• Vrastil continued the ridiculous start to her collegiate career. She had two more multi-hit games on Friday, going 4-for-7 with a walk, a run and a stolen base over the two games. The freshman has tallied multiple hits in five of the first six games of her career.
• Vasquez had the first multi-hit game of her career in the win over Monmouth, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and a walk. The junior followed by going 1-for-2 with an RBI in the Presbyterian win.
• Krug picked up her second multi-hit game of the year against PC, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs out of the nine spot of the order, while Szostak had her second such game of the season in that contest as well, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.
• Metz recorded a pair of three-inning saves on Friday. The rookie tossed three shutout frames to close out the Monmouth win, and then struck out seven in three innings of work to finish off Presbyterian.
• Sydney McDermott (Stout, Ohio/Portsmouth West) earned her second win of the year in the circle in the opener, surrendering just the one unearned run in four innings of work while striking out five.
• Lopez picked up the victory in the nightcap, her second of the season. She allowed just one hit in her four innings in the circle.

 
Next Up
Valpo (4-2) looks to extend its winning streak on Saturday as it concludes weekend action with another pair of games. The Beacons face UMES at 9 a.m. CT and Cleveland State at 11:15 a.m. CT.