The Valpo softball team dropped a pair of games on its second day of action from the Lindenwood Invitational in St. Charles, Mo. Saturday, falling in walk-off fashion to the host Lions, 2-1, before seeing its comeback effort come up short in an 11-7 setback versus Western Illinois.
 
How It Happened – Lindenwood

• Valpo grabbed the lead in the top of the first, as Lexi Szostak (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park) delivered a one-out single and eventually came around to score on a Lindenwood error.
• The one run was more than enough for much of the game for Sydney McDermott (Stout, Ohio/Portsmouth West), as the sophomore tossed 4.2 hitless innings to start the game. Back-to-back base hits with two outs in the fifth tied the game at 1-1, however.
• Valpo got the potential go-ahead run to third with one out in the top of the sixth, as Mack Gallagher (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East [MSU Moorhead]) led off the frame with a walk and pinch-runner Kyndal Shively (Bloomington, Ill./University) moved up to second on a sacrifice before stealing third. But a pop-out and a strikeout kept it a tied game.
• Lindenwood loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh in search of the walk-off win. The Beacons got an out at the plate on an infield grounder to move within one out of extra innings, but a two-out RBI single closed out the game in the Lions' favor.

 
How It Happened – Western Illinois

• Valpo opened the scoring in its second game of the day in the bottom of the second inning. Sophia Leitzen (Orfordville, Wis./Brodhead) led off the inning with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly from Lana Tellez (Chino Hills, Calif./Chino Hills).
• WIU took the lead for good in the top of the third with three runs. The Leathernecks added five in the fourth and two in the fifth to move the game to potential run-rule territory.
• Trailing by nine entering the bottom of the fifth, the Beacons battled back. Gallagher drove in a run with a bases-loaded walk before two more scored on a WIU error.
• Leitzen followed with an RBI single, and two batters later, Tellez delivered a two-run single to make it a 10-7 game. The Beacons had a chance to cut further into the lead with two runners in scoring position and only one out, but were unable to get any closer.
• The Leathernecks added an unearned run in the top of the sixth to cap the scoring.

 
Inside the Games

• Gallagher and Madison Vrastil (Oak Forest, Ill./Andrew) each reached base twice in the opener, both tallying one base hit and walking once.
• The Beacons had three stolen bases against the Lions, with Vrastil, Szostak and Shively each swiping a bag.
• McDermott took a no-decision in a strong start against Lindenwood, giving up just two hits and one run while striking out six. Erin Metz (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) was charged with the loss.
• Leitzen and Azalya Lopez (Corona, Calif./Eleanor Roosevelt [MSU Moorhead]) each had two hits in the nightcap against WIU, with Leitzen walking once as well and scoring two runs.
• Kaia Garnica (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) reached base three times as well against the Leathernecks, picking up a base hit and walking twice.
• After entering the game with just one career RBI, Tellez drove in three runs in the nightcap.
• Lopez took the loss in the circle against WIU, pitching four total innings.

 
Next Up
Valpo (6-6) closes out the Lindenwood Invitational on Sunday with another matchup against Western Illinois. First pitch is scheduled for noon.