The Valpo softball team heads into MVC play on a winning note, as the Beacons used a three-run sixth inning to conclude preconference play with a 4-1 victory at Northern Kentucky Tuesday afternoon.
 
How It Happened

• Valpo opened the scoring in the top of the second inning. Azalya Lopez (Corona, Calif./Eleanor Roosevelt [MSU Moorhead]) led off the frame by working a full-count walk and eventually scored on a two-out RBI single from Kayden Krug (Milford, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame).
• The host Norse got the run back in the fourth inning on a solo homer.
• The Beacons had a strong chance to regain the lead in the top of the fifth, getting runners to second and third with one out, but a pop-up and a strikeout ended the threat.
• Valpo broke the game up in the top of the sixth. Mack Gallagher (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East [MSU Moorhead]) and Lopez led off the inning with back-to-back singles, and pinch-runners Kyndal Shively (Bloomington, Ill./University) and Natalie Bush (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) came around to score on a Kim Rodas (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon) sacrifice fly and an NKU error, respectively.
• Krug picked up her second run-scoring hit of the game, knocking home Kaiah Fenters (Speedway, Ind./Speedway) to cap the three-run frame as Valpo led 4-1.
• The Beacons' pitching and defense brought the win home, as a leadoff single in the seventh was the only blemish in the final two innings.

 
Inside the Game

• Valpo boasts an 11-9 record as it heads into MVC play, its best record at the start of the conference slate since sitting at 12-8 to start the 2018 Valley schedule.
• Gallagher and Krug both had multi-hit efforts Tuesday afternoon, Krug her fourth of the year and Gallagher her second of the season.
• Krug drove in multiple runs as well, her fifth multi-RBI game this year, and also drew a walk to reach base three times.
• Madison Vrastil (Oak Forest, Ill./Andrew) extended her on-base streak to start her collegiate career to 20 games and her current hitting streak to 11 games with a fifth-inning single.
• Vrastil is one of just eight Valpo players since 1999 to have an on-base streak of at least 20 straight games.
• Lopez improved to 5-5 this season in the circle, earning the win with three innings of one-hit shutout relief.
• Sydney McDermott (Stout, Ohio/Portsmouth West) started at pitcher and went the first three frames, striking out four while surrendering just one hit.

 
Next Up
Valpo (11-9) opens MVC play this weekend with a three-game series at Indiana State. The series begins Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. CT, with all three games scheduled for broadcast on ESPN+.