The Valpo softball team split a pair of games in its first day of action at the Lindenwood Invitational in St. Charles, Mo. on Friday, pulling out a 1-0 win in extra innings in its opener against Green Bay before falling 4-2 to the host Lions in its second game of the day.
 
How It Happened – Green Bay

• While nine of the 14 half-innings in regulation featured at least one runner on base, both squads did well to keep away from major threats, as only one runner advanced past second base in the first seven innings.
• Valpo's best scoring chance in regulation came in the top of the first, as the Beacons put runners on second and third with two out. A walk loaded the bases before a groundout ended the frame.
• The international tiebreak was in effect, meaning that Lexi Szostak (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park) was placed on second base to start the top of the eighth. Kyndal Shively (Bloomington, Ill./University) executed a sacrifice to move Szostak up to third with one out, and a Green Bay error allowed Szostak to score the game's first run.
• Erin Metz (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) returned to the circle for the bottom of the eighth, and her job got tougher immediately, as the Phoenix's runner on second advanced to third on a passed ball. Metz got back-to-back strikeouts to get within one out of closing out the game, and after a walk and stolen base put the potential winning run on second, the freshman induced a grounder to close out the win.

 
How It Happened – Lindenwood

• Valpo's first nine hitters were retired in order, extended to 15 of its first 16 through the first five innings.
• While the Beacons were trying to get their offense going, Azalya Lopez (Corona, Calif./Eleanor Roosevelt [MSU Moorhead]) and the Valpo defense were working out of trouble. Lindenwood loaded the bases with one out in the second, had a runner on third with one out in the third and a runner on third with two outs in the fourth, but each time the Beacons kept the Lions off the board.
• Lindenwood broke through in the bottom of the fifth with a trio of runs, all of which were unearned to Valpo as a team, to take a 3-0 lead.
• The Beacons got their offense going in the top of the sixth, as three singles loaded the bases with one out. Two batters later, Mack Gallagher (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East [MSU Moorhead]) delivered a two-run single to make it a one-run game.
• Metz followed with a single of her own, but Valpo's tying run was thrown out at the plate to keep it a 3-2 game.
• Lindenwood added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, and while Valpo got the potential tying run to the plate in the top of the seventh, the Beacons were unable to complete the comeback.

 
Inside the Games

• Valpo's 1-0 win over Green Bay was its first such victory since a 1-0 win at Bradley April 15, 2023. It was its first 1-0 win in extra inning since prevailing 1-0 in eight innings over Cleveland State May 4, 2008.
• Sydney McDermott (Stout, Ohio/Portsmouth West) started against Green Bay and tossed 5.2 shutout innings, scattering four hits. Metz entered in the sixth inning and completed the game, earning the win with 2.1 shutout innings, striking out six for her first collegiate victory.
• Lopez was charged with the loss against Lindenwood despite not allowing an earned run in her 4.1 innings in the circle.
• The Beacons were limited to just eight combined hits over Friday's two games.
• Marissa Jackson (Willis, Mich./Huron) registered a hit and a walk in each game, reaching twice in both contests.
• Kaia Garnica (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) reached base three times in the win over the Phoenix without the benefit of a hit, walking once and getting hit by a pitch twice.
• Madison Vrastil (Oak Forest, Ill./Andrew) registered her seventh multi-hit game of the young campaign in the nightcap, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.
• Beyond her work in the circle, Metz recorded a base hit against Lindenwood in her first career plate appearance.

 
Next Up
Valpo (6-4) continues action at the Lindenwood Invitational with two more games on Saturday. The Beacons rematch with the host Lions at noon, before turning around to face Western Illinois at 4 p.m.