Next Up in Valpo Baseball: The Valparaiso University baseball team will close out a stretch of 15 straight road games including eight against instate opponents this weekend as the Beacons head to Evansville to face off with the defending Missouri Valley Conference Tournament champion Purple Aces for a three-game series beginning on Friday. Valpo has played a doubleheader in five of the first six weekends due to weather-related schedule changes, and there's a strong possibility this weekend will feature forecast-induced tweaks as well.  
 
Last Time Out: The Beacons had hopes of beating a third different Big Ten opponent this season, but fell 6-3 at Purdue on Tuesday. Aidan Thaxton had two hits and Connor Giusti homered. Valpo struck first in the opening inning but Purdue scored the next four runs with single tallies in the second, third, fourth and fifth. Kolt Davis, Nick Baffa and Adam Guazzo all pitched well out of the Beacon bullpen.
 
Following the Beacons: All three games this weekend will air on ESPN+. For links to live video and stats, visit ValpoAthletics.com. For in-game updates, follow @ValpoBaseball on X.
 
Head Coach Brian Schmack: Brian Schmack (207-347) is in his 11th season in charge of the program. He ranks third in program history in seasons coached and games coached as he coached his 500^th game on March 17, 2024 at Campbell. On April 19 vs. Missouri State, he became the third head coach in program history to secure his 200^th win. Schmack, a member of the 2003 Detroit Tigers, served as pitching coach/associate head coach at Valpo for seven seasons prior to his promotion.
 
A Look Back at 2024: Valpo finished 14-38 overall and 6-21 in Missouri Valley Conference play last season and hopes to return to the MVC Tournament field in 2025. Kaleb Hannahs earned Second Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors last season, while Kyle Schmack finished one home run shy of tying the program's career and single-season records. The team launched 71 home runs, the second most in program history and most since 2001. Alex Ryan made an incredible leaping catch that was featured at No. 4 on SportsCenter's Top 10 plays, robbing a grand slam as part of a 20-0 victory at UIC on April 28. The 2024 campaign also saw Valpo post a fielding percentage of .970 that ranked fourth in program history. The season also saw head coach Brian Schmack reach the 200-win threshold.
 
Series Notes: Valpo holds a 42-29 lead in an all-time series that started in 1948. Valpo dropped two of three last season at Emory G. Bauer Field, winning the middle game 8-4 but falling in the opener 13-1 in seven innings and the finale 9-0. Valpo is seeking its first series win over Evansville since 2018.  
 
In the Other Dugout – Evansville

• The Purple Aces took two of three on the road against Murray State last week to start conference play before losing 13-3 in a midweek game with Western Kentucky.
• Picked tied for fifth of 10 in the MVC preseason poll.
• Evansville won the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, won an NCAA Regional and won a game over No. 1 Tennessee in the NCAA Super Regional last season.

Lockwood Named MVC Pitcher of the Week

• Valpo pitcher Connor Lockwood was named the Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week on March 24, earning the award for the third time in his career.
• Lockwood became the first Valpo player to earn a weekly award from the league office this season and became Valpo's first three-time MVC Pitcher of the Week since joining the league.
• Valpo has captured the award 10 total times since joining The Valley as Lockwood is joined by Colin Fields (twice), Bryce Konitzer, Jacob Rosenkranz, Jake Miller, Bobby Nowak and Easton Rhodehouse.
• Lockwood's honor came after he pitched Valpo to a victory over defending MVC regular-season champion Indiana State, helping the Beacons beat the Sycamores for the first time since 2007, ending a 25-game head-to-head losing streak.
• Lockwood, the game's winning pitcher, threw 120 pitches over seven innings and did not allow an earned run as all three runs that crossed the plate against him were unearned. He racked up 10 strikeouts while scattering five hits and walking one. This marked the third time this season that he had seven or more strikeouts and one or fewer walks. His 10 strikeouts were one shy of a career high set on Feb. 22 of this season at Memphis, when he fanned 11.
• His game score of 70 by D1Baseball had him rank among the top 100 performers of the weekend, as released by D1Baseball. 

Notes Wrapping Up March 25 – Purdue 6, Valpo 3

• Connor Giusti's home run was his third of the season and the 10^th of his two-year Valpo career.
• Aidan Thaxton had two hits to lead the team.
• Purdue held a 9-6 edge in the hit column. Giusti's homer and a double by Liam Patton accounted for Valpo's extra-base knocks.
• The Beacons issued only three walks while Purdue pitching walked seven. However, the Beacon pitching staff did hit five batters.
• Nine Valpo pitchers took the mound, led by Davis, Baffa and Guazzo who each pitched one inning without being charged with a run.
• Valpo already has wins over Illinois and Ohio State this season and was hoping to beat a third different Big Ten Conference team.

Snapping the Sycamore Streak

• Valpo's 8-3 win at Indiana State on March 21 to open Missouri Valley Conference play snapped a 25-game head-to-head losing streak.
• The Beacons picked up their first win over the Sycamores since 2007.
• The squad was previously 0-20 against Indiana State since joining the Missouri Valley Conference prior to the 2018 season.
• The victory came over an Indiana State team that went 44-15 (22-5 MVC) and won the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season crown last year. Valpo has wins over the defending MVC and Big Ten regular-season champions this year.
• This marked the first time Valpo opened conference play with a win since joining The Valley prior to the 2018 season. Valpo had lost seven straight league lid-lifters dating back to a March 18, 2016 Horizon League win over Northern Kentucky.

Other Notes Wrapping Up March 21-22 at Indiana State: W 8-3, L 2-1, L 10-5

• Ryan Maka extended his season-long on-base streak to 16 in the series opener, but that streak was snapped in the middle game of the series as he failed to reach base for the first time this season.
• Valpo owned a 7-5 edge in the hit column in the series opener and survived three errors. The five hits allowed tied a season best for the Valpo pitching staff with Feb. 23 at Memphis.
• Valpo scored eight runs or more for the fourth time in a five-game span in the series opener.
• Valpo starting pitcher Connor Lockwood threw 120 pitches over seven innings in the series-opening victory, allowing no earned runs (three total runs) on five hits and one walk with 10 strikeouts.
• Lockwood's 10 strikeouts were one shy of a career high set on Feb. 22 of this season at Memphis. The game against Indiana State marked the third time this season that he had seven or more strikeouts and one walk or fewer.
• The Sycamores swept Saturday's doubleheader to secure their 20^th straight conference series win.
• In Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader, Harry Deliyannis struck out five and walked just one while allowing two runs on five hits over six strong innings.
• Josh Cottrill went two shutout innings in relief in Saturday's first game, allowing just one run and one walk while striking out two.
• The Beacons held a 7-6 edge in the hit column, but were on the wrong end of the column that counts in Saturday's first game.
• Redshirt freshman Aidan Thaxton had a pair of hits, his second multi-hit game of the season, in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader.
• The middle game of the series marked Valpo's first 2-1 loss since May 22, 2021 at Missouri State and first loss when allowing two runs or fewer since falling 2-0 at Bradley on May 15, 2022.
• The two runs were the fewest allowed by the Beacons in any game this season. The Beacons had allowed double-figure runs in five straight prior to the series against the Sycamores.
• In the series finale, Liam Patton, Kevin Denty and Patrick Ilitch had two hits apiece.
• Valpo had nine hits in the series finale, but Denty doubled for the team's lone extra-base hit in either game of Saturday's doubleheader and one of just two Beacon extra-base knocks in the entire series.
• Five of the 10 runs Indiana State scored in the series finale were unearned.

Notes Wrapping Up March 18 – Ball State 14, Valpo 10

• Ryan Maka has reached base safely in every game he's played this season, extending his streak to 15 on Tuesday. He became the first Valpo player with an on-base streak of 15 games or more since Alex Ryan reached safely in 24 straight last season.
• Maka's home run was the 20^th of his career, one away from cracking the program's all-time top 10.
• Thomas Cooper homered for the second time this season and in his career. This marked his first home run since Feb. 22 at Memphis.
• Valpo scored nine runs or more for the third time in the last four games.
• Case Sullivan, Maka, Liam Patton and Kevin Denty all had multiple hits including Maka and Denty leading the way with three apiece.
• The Beacons outhit the Cardinals 14-10 as the Beacons tied a season high for hits that was set on Feb. 28 vs. Niagara. This marked Valpo's third double-figure hit total in the last four games.
• Free bases plagued the Beacons as Valpo walked 10, hit a batter and made three errors.

 
Beating B1G Foes

• Valpo picked up its second Big Ten win of the season on March 15 with a 13-10 win at Illinois.
• Valpo knocked off the defending Big Ten regular-season champions and an NCAA Regional team from last season. The Illini won 35 games last season and went 18-6 in Big Ten play.
• The Beacons beat the Illini for the second time in the last three head-to-head matchups after also winning in 2018.
• Valpo enjoyed a 10-7 series-opening win on March 7 at Ohio State, the program's second power-conference win in the last three seasons after beating Kansas 11-3 on Feb. 18, 2023.
• The win over the Buckeyes snapped a 10-game skid against power-conference competition.
• The Beacons earned their first Big Ten win since 2018, when they prevailed 11-7 at No. 25 Illinois.
• The win came against an Ohio State club that won 29 games last season.
• Since Brian Schmack took over as head coach, Valpo has wins over four different Big Ten opponents – Ohio State, Michigan State, Illinois and Purdue.

Among League Leaders

• Ryan Maka ranks eighth in the Missouri Valley Conference in batting average at .357 and fifth in on-base percentage at .477.
• Liam Patton ranks second in the league in on-base percentage at .471 and tied for sixth in hit by pitch with six.
• Connor Lockwood leads the Missouri Valley Conference with 39 strikeouts and is the league-leader with 39 1/3 innings pitched. He ranks eighth in fewest walks allowed with eight.
• Adam Guazzo's two saves rank tied for sixth in the league.

Early Opener

• This year marked the earliest Valpo has ever opened the home portion of the season.
• Valpo did not play a home game until March 19 in 2024 and March 28 in 2023 but started the home docket on Feb. 28 this season.
• That was Valpo's first nonconference home weekend series since hosting St. Bonaventure in March 2022 and just the third nonconference home weekend in Brian Schmack's 11 years as head coach. Valpo hosted Butler for a nonconference home weekend in 2019.

Maka Pushing the Home Run List 

• Ryan Maka slugged a home run in both games of the Feb. 14 season-opening doubleheader at Samford and added his third of the season on March 15 at Illinois. He followed up with his fourth of the year on March 18 at Ball State.
• Maka moved his career home-run total to 20, moving to within one of cracking the program's all-time top 10.
• Maka has already matched his season home run total from a year ago.
• One more home runs would put Maka in a tie for 10^th in career program history, joining Dan Schrum (1999-2002), Jamie Sykes (1994-1997), Dale Polonus (1986-1988), Marc Boggio (1999-2003) and Sam Shaikin (2016-2019).

Inside the Schedule

• Valpo will once again face a competitive schedule, which started against a Samford program that won 36 games last season.
• Valpo hosted the earliest home games in program history against a Niagara team that went 38-17 overall and 20-4 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference en route to a league title and NCAA Regional appearance last year.
• After the early-season home weekend, Valpo went back on the road for 15 straight, starting with a set at Ohio State (March 7-9), a 29-win Big Ten Conference club in 2024. That trip continued with a visit to national baseball powerhouse Vanderbilt (March 11) of the Southeastern Conference, a 38-win NCAA Regional team last year against whom Valpo played a competitive, one-run game.
• The Beacons headed to Illinois (March 14-16) for the final nonconference weekend series. The Illini went 35-21 overall and 18-6 in Big Ten Conference play last season on their way to the NCAA Regional.
• Valpo began MVC play against instate foe Indiana State (March 21-23), the defending Valley regular-season champions and a team that won two NCAA Regional games as part of a 44-win season in 2024.
• The league docket features a visit to Evansville, the defending MVC Tournament champion and a team that won 39 games including a regional title and made an NCAA Super Regional appearance last season.
• Valpo will play 10 of its first 24 games against NCAA Regional teams from a year ago.

Beacon Blasts

• Valpo launched 71 home runs last season, surpassing the 1985 season (64) to climb into second in program history.
• Valpo held its highest single-season home run total during the BBCOR bat era that began in 2011.
• The 71 bombs marked the program's most since 2001, a year where the team launched a program-record 81 long balls.
• This marked the first time ever that Valpo has hit at least 50 home runs in back-to-back years, as the Beacons hit 50 long balls in 2023, the fifth most in program history.

Valpo Single-Season Top 5 – Team Home Runs
Rank    Year    HR
1          2001    81
2          2024    71
3          1985    64
4          1999    55
5          2023    50
 
Other Record Book Updates from 2024

• The team had a .970 fielding percentage that ranks fourth in program history, the squad's second straight season at .970 or better.
• Kyle Schmack finished his career with 794 at-bats, third in program history behind Chris Manning (2011-2014, 896) and Michael Arensdorff (2003-2007, 833). He scored 146 runs (sixth in program history), had 223 hits (sixth), 45 doubles (t-sixth), 35 home runs (second), 131 RBIs (fifth) and 98 walks (t-sixth).
• Schmack finished 2024 with 17 home runs, one shy of tying the single-season record as well.
• Brady Renfro finished eighth in program history in career fielding percentage (.989), eighth in putouts (845) and fourth in walks (103).
• Alex Thurston finished fourth in program history in career assists (431).
• Kaleb Hannahs finished tied for sixth in program history in career doubles (45).

Pitching Profiles – Probable Starters

• #11 RHP Connor Lockwood, (R-Jr.), (Libertyville, Ill. / Libertyville): Named conference co-player of the year as a high school senior in 2021 and received all-state accolades... Interested in a career in elementary education... Favorite food is deep dish pizza... Finished his freshman season with an 0-5 record and 7.30 ERA in 2022, but did his best work late in the year, posting a 1.80 ERA over his last three regular-season starts... Started his 2023 season with a gem, earning the win thanks to a career-long seven innings and a career-high six strikeouts while allowing no runs on two hits and walking none in an 11-3 victory over Big 12 foe Kansas in Corpus Christi, Texas on Feb. 18, 2023... Made his first appearance since April 2, 2023 vs. Murray State on March 1, 2024 at Elon as after that game he underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery. In his return to the rubber, he started and went three innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and one walk while striking out four... Tossed five shutout innings and earned the win in a 3-2 victory in Game 1 of a doubleheader at The Citadel on March 8, 2024... Threw a complete game to earn the win while scattering eight hits, striking out nine and walking none on March 30, 2024 vs. Bradley. He became the first Valpo hurler to toss a nine-inning complete game in five years and was named MVC Pitcher of the Week on April 1, becoming the second Valpo pitcher since the team joined the MVC to become a multi-time winner of that award… Started the 2025 season opener on Feb. 14 and tossed an eight-inning complete game, striking out seven and walking none while taking the tough-luck loss after allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits at Samford… Allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits in seven innings, racking up a career-high 11 strikeouts against no walks on Feb. 22 at Memphis… Picked up his first victory of the season with 6 2/3 innings of five-run, seven-hit ball on March 7 at Ohio State, working walk-free baseball for the third time in four starts… Named the MVC Pitcher of the Week on March 24 after pitching Valpo to its first win over Indiana State since 2007 on March 21, ending a 25-game head-to-head losing streak. He allowed no earned runs (three total runs) on five hits and one walk while striking out 10 over seven innings against the defending Missouri Valley Conference regular-season champions.
• #36 RHP Harry Deliyannis, Gr. (Bloomington, Ind. / Bloomington North) – Joined the program after pitching 218 2/3 innings in 43 games during his career at Division-III Pomona-Pitzer that spanned 2020-2024… Had a career ERA of 4.36 with 206 strikeouts against 71 walks… Hobbies include chess, PC, gaming and cello… Favorite musical group is My Chemical Romance… Picked up the victory with four innings of five-run, four-hit relief while striking out four and walking one in Game 2 of a doubleheader on Feb. 28 vs. Niagara. He retired the side in order in the fourth and fifth innings… Made his first start in a Valpo uniform on March 8 at Ohio State… Struck out seven and earned the win with a five-inning start on March 15 in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Illinois… Took a tough-luck loss on March 22 in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Indiana State, holding the Sycamores to two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out five in six innings.
• #29 RHP Spencer Boynton, R-Jr. (Tampa, Fla. / Seffner Christian) – Was an all-conference honoree at Eastern Nazarene College, where he spent two seasons before joining the Beacons prior to the 2024 campaign, which he missed due to an injury… Hobbies include golf, tennis, ping pong and video games… Favorite movie is The Usual Suspects, food is pizza, pro baseball team is the San Francisco Giants and MLB players are Buster Posey and Kevin Gausman… Made his first Valpo start on Feb. 16, 2025 at Samford and took the defeat after allowing eight runs in 1 1/3 innings… Garnered his first collegiate victory with a bounce-back outing on Feb. 23 at Memphis. He was perfect through four innings and totaled five frames of two-hit, no-walk ball while striking out five…. Scattered eight hits and allowed three runs in five innings, taking the loss on March 9 at Ohio State… Pitched two innings and had no decision in his first MVC start on March 22 at Indiana State.

Pitching Profiles – Bullpen Bits

• #1 Jack Thompson, R-Fr. (Rosemount, Minn. / Rosemount) – Redshirted as a freshman at Valpo in 2024… All-conference honoree for a team that was the Minnesota 4A state runner-up in high school… Hobbies include fishing, snowboarding and relaxing on the lake… Favorite TV show is Game of Thrones.
• #6 LHP Kaden Kiser, So. (Columbus, Ohio / Hamilton Township) – Played at Bryant & Stratton College in 2024, where he made nine appearances including five starts in his lone JUCO season… Is ambidextrous, writing with his right hand and playing sports with his left (except golf, which he does with his right)… Favorite MLB players are Chris Sale and Elly De La Cruz… Favorite MLB team is the Cincinnati Reds.
• #14 RHP Bennett Musser, So. (Round Lake, Ill. / Mundelein) – Made five relief appearances during his freshman season in 2024… Threw a one-hitter in high school in the state semifinal game… Hopes to become a professional poker player… Favorite TV show is Tom and Jerry.
• #16 RHP Josh Cottrill, R-Jr. (Pewaukee, Wis. / Pewaukee) - Redshirted in 2021 during his first season on campus, then logged 8 2/3 innings in seven games out of the bullpen in 2022… Two-time all-conference performer in high school… Set his school's record for highest batting average by a freshman at .531 in 2017… Hobbies include Guitar Hero... Can juggle... Loves to travel… Posted a 5.63 ERA while making 14 appearances including one start in 2023... Made his first collegiate start and logged four innings on May 19, 2023 vs. Illinois State... Matched the longest outing of his career and earned his second collegiate win in his Feb. 17 season debut in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Alabama State. He allowed just one run on four hits in six innings while walking two and striking out seven… Posted a 3.75 ERA while striking out 12 and walking four in 12 innings over three starts in 2024 – at Alabama State, at Alabama and at Elon – before going down with an injury… Made his first appearance back from Tommy John surgery on March 11, starting at No. 16 Vanderbilt… Pitched in relief on March 15 at Illinois and worked two scoreless innings on March 22 at Indiana State.
• #24 Adam Guazzo, R-Fr. (Huntley, Ill. / Huntley) – Was sidelined and did not see action during his first season on campus in 2023... Two-time all-conference performer in basketball in addition to earning all-conference on the diamond as a senior in high school... Set his high school's record for rebounds in a single season on the hardwood with 320 in 2021-22... Favorite TV shows are Breaking Bad and Ozarks... Made his first collegiate appearance and start by pitching four innings on Feb. 18, 2024 at Alabama State, allowing three runs (one earned)... Made his second start of the season on March 8, 2024 in Game 2 of a doubleheader at The Citadel, logging six innings of two-run (one earned), two-hit ball while striking out six and walking none in a game that Valpo won in extra innings... Started and worked four solid innings, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out five on April 30, 2024 at Western Michigan... Nailed down his first collegiate save with 1 2/3 scoreless inning on Feb. 23 at Memphis… Tossed a shutout frame on March 7 at Ohio State to earn his second save… Allowed one run on one hit over two frames of relief on March 15 at Illinois… Entered the March 25 game at Purdue with the Beacons in a jam in the bottom of the eighth and limited the damage as he was not charged with a run while allowing no hits, striking out two and recording all three outs in the inning.
• #26 RHP Ryan Kruse, R-So. (Detroit, Mich. / U of D Jesuit) – In his second season in the program after redshirting at Northern Kentucky in 2023… Made two appearances – both against nationally-ranked competition – and was not charged with any earned runs in 2024… Enjoys golfing, swimming, snowboarding, working out and tennis… Favorite movie is The Dark Knight… Worked a scoreless inning in the series finale at Samford on Feb. 16, 2025, his first action of the season… Did not allow a run in an inning of work on March 9 at Ohio State… Pitched two scoreless, hitless innings to finish out Valpo's victory at Indiana State on March 21, helping the Beacons snap a 25-game head-to-head losing streak.
• #27 RHP Kolt Davis, Gr. (Johnson, Neb. / Johnson-Brock) – Played at Wayne State from 2021-2024, where he was a three-time all-conference honoree… Made 31 career appearances and had a 4-2 record while starting twice and nailing down two saves… Favorite MLB team is the New York Yankees and player is Derek Jeter… Hopes to become a human trafficking investigator… Pitched a scoreless sixth inning on March 25 at Purdue.

• #31 RHP Joe Seiber, R-Jr. (Homer Glen, Ill. / Lockport) - Third team junior college All-American at Collee of DuPage… Favorite MLB team is the Chicago White Sox… Favorite movie is Billy Madison… Joined the program prior to the 2024 season as a junior college transfer… Earned his first Valpo save with two shutout innings of one-hit ball while allowing no walks to close out a 3-2 win at The Citadel in Game 1 of a doubleheader on March 8, 2024. Tossed three shutout innings while allowing one hit and walking none on March 29, 2024 vs. Bradley... Tossed two scoreless innings of relief on April 9, 2024 at Milwaukee... Earned the victory in relief on April 19, 2024 vs. Missouri State... Flipped two shutout innings on April 30, 2024 at Western Michigan... Pitched two shutout innings on May 14, 2024 at Northwestern… Is the primary returning reliever from 2024 back in 2025… Was charged with no runs on two hits and no walks in two innings of work in the March 14 series opener at Illinois… Made his first Valpo start on March 25 vs. Ball State and allowed two runs on two hits and no walks in two innings… Started on March 25 at Purdue and allowed one run on two hits and one walk in two innings.

• #32 RHP Nick Baffa, Fr. (Glenview, Ill. / Notre Dame College Prep) – Made his collegiate debut with a scoreless inning on Feb. 22 at Memphis… Also hurled a shutout frame in his second outing on March 8 at Ohio State… Loves to take naps almost every day… Favorite TV show is SpongeBob SquarePants… Played for Athletic Barn Baseball, Future Games and WWBA Jupiter Florida Chicago Scouts Association… Entered the March 25 game at Purdue with two on and nobody out in the seventh and worked out of the jam, ending the inning with consecutive strikeouts.  
• #35 RHP Bryce Richter, Gr. (Minneapolis, Minn. / Holy Family Catholic) – Joined Valpo's program for the 2025 season after playing four years at North Alabama, where he graduated magna cum laude and was on the dean's list all four years… Appeared in 20 games out of the bullpen during his four-year career at North Alabama… Threw a no-hitter as a sophomore in high school… Also played four years of soccer and holds the school record for shutouts by a goalkeeper with 19… Pursuing an MBA at Valpo… Favorite food is ground bison and rice with a little Chick-Fil-A sauce.
• #37 Alexander Morrison, Jr. (Pasadena, Calif. / Canyon) – Spent two years at Los Angeles Mission College before arriving at Valpo… Hobbies include fishing and going to the beach… Grew up in Bonney Lake, Wash. riding BMX and snowboarding… Allowed one run and no earned runs while logging an inning of relief in his Valpo debut on Feb. 16, 2025 at Samford.
• #41 Deuce Musial, R-Fr. (De Pere, Wis. / Notre Dame Academy) – Redshirted while at Arkansas State in 2024… Awarded a top-1000 national ranking by Perfect Game in high school and led his team to back-to-back regional titles… Is the great-great-great nephew of National Baseball Hall of Famer Stan "The Man" Musial, a 24-time National League All-Star, seven-time NL batting champion, three-time MVP and one of the greatest players in St. Louis Cardinals history (1941-1944, 1946-1963).
• #42 LHP Lucas Foley, Fr. (Deer Park, Ill. / Lake Zurich) – 2023 IHSBCA 4A First Team All-State and PBR Third Team All-State... Conference Pitcher of the Year as a senior in high school in 2023... Enjoys water and snow skiing... Has broken his collarbone four times... Favorite musical group is Cold Play... Went seven innings and allowed just one run on five hits while walking none and striking out 11 on Feb. 17, 2024 at Alabama State, getting the start in the second game of a doubleheader and making his collegiate debut. He was one of two freshmen in the country with 11 or more strikeouts in a game over the opening weekend of the season... Allowed one run on five hits and one walk in four innings of a start on March 3, 2024 vs. Binghamton, receiving no decision... Moved to the bullpen and tossed two scoreless innings on March 22, 2024 at Southern Illinois... Struck out the side in his first inning of work and racked up six strikeouts in just 2 2/3 frames of relief on March 26, 2024 at No. 7 Vanderbilt. He was charged with one unearned run on three hits and one walk... Worked three shutout innings while striking out four, issuing no walks and permitting two hits to help Valpo beat Bradley on March 31, 2024… Made his first 2025 start on Feb. 14 at Samford and took the loss after allowing eight runs (seven earned) on six hits and three walks in two innings.

 
Position Player Profiles – Projected Lineup (based on recent games) 

• #34 Case Sullivan, SS, R-Fr. (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel) – Joined the program after redshirting at Marshall in 2024, where he was a member of the president's list with a perfect 4.0 GPA… Is a triplet with his two siblings, Colin and Lily… Lily plays softball at the University of Akron and Colin is an engineering student at Purdue… Favorite pro baseball team is the Boston Red Sox and player is Mookie Betts… Had four hits on his first day in a Valpo uniform on Feb. 14 at Samford, going 3-for-3 with a walk in Game 2 of the season-opening doubleheader… Homered in the first game of the series at Memphis on Feb. 22, the first of his collegiate career… Played solid shortstop in addition to going 3-for-5 with two doubles on Feb. 23 at Memphis… Walked four times and scored three runs on Feb. 28 in Game 2 of a doubleheader vs. Niagara. He became the first Beacon with four walks in a game since Kyle Schmack on April 30, 2023 at Missouri State.
• #22 Ryan Maka, LF, Sr. (Oak Forest, Ill. / Oak Forest) – Also competed in golf in high school... Other hobbies include investing and going to the gym... Favorite TV Show is Stranger Things... Became the first Valpo player since 2018 and second since 2008 to notch a three-homer game on May 13, 2022 vs. Bradley. Had four home runs in that series and five extra-base hits en route to earning Collegiate Baseball Newspaper National Player of the Week recognition... Ranked third on the team in MVC-only batting average at .286 and tied for the team lead with four home runs in Valley play in 2022... 2023 All-MVC First Team and 2024 Preseason All-MVC honors... Posted a .345 batting average in 2023, jumping his average nearly 100 points from the previous season... Hit two grand slams in 2023, becoming the first Valpo player since at least 2006 with two career grand slams... Played in 36 games (all starts) in 2024, hitting .277 with nine doubles, four homers, 20 RBIs and 17 runs scored including a .301 average in 23 league games… Homered in both games of the season-opening doubleheader at Samford on Feb. 14, 2025… Closed out the Samford series by reaching base three times via two hits and a walk on Feb. 16 in Birmingham… Was the primary bright spot of Game 1 of a doubleheader on Feb. 28 vs. Niagara, accounting for four of the team's seven hits and going 4-for-4… Had four hits in Game 1 of a doubleheader on March 15 at Illinois, equaling a season high. Followed with a 436-foot home run in the nightcap of that double dip… Hit his 20^th career home run on March 18 at Ball State… Reached base in each of his first 16 games this season before that streak was snapped on March 22 at Indiana State.

• #33 Liam Patton, DH, Gr. (Barrington, Ill. / Warsaw) – Spent his first three seasons at Wabash College, where he hit .384 with six home runs, 50 RBIs and a .582 slugging percentage in 2023... Had a go-ahead, two-run single with two outs in the ninth inning on March 5, 2024 vs. Jacksonville, a game Valpo eventually dropped 6-5 on a walk-off in the bottom of the ninth... Came up clutch again in the second game of a doubleheader on March 8, 2024 at The Citadel, when his bases-clearing double in the top of the 10^th spurred a 10-5 victory... Hit his first Valpo home run on April 19, 2024 vs. Missouri State… Totaled 28 appearances and 26 starts in 2024… Doubled in Game 2 of a season-opening doubleheader on Feb. 14, 2025 at Samford, part of a two-hit output… Had four RBIs in the March 7 series opener at Ohio State, making it seven RBIs in a two-game span after recording three in the final game against Niagara the previous weekend… Homered in each of the first two games of the series at Illinois on March 14 and 15.

• #5 Kevin Denty, RF, So. (Tinley Park, Ill. / Marian Catholic) – Played in 29 games and made 27 starts as a freshman in 2024, ranking fourth on the team in batting average at .278… Hit .300 in 10 league games including eight starts in 2024… Had a season-high four hits including two home runs on March 1, 2024 at Elon… Eats Chipotle three times per week… Favorite MLB team is the Chicago White Sox… Hit his first home run of the season and the fourth of his collegiate career on March 14 at Illinois and was a triple shy of the cycle in that game.
• #4 Spencer Warfield, CF, R-Jr. (Fullerton, Calif. / Servite) – Played in five games in 2024 before being shut down for the season with an injury… Appeared in 21 games and made 15 starts in 2023 after seeing action in 18 games and making 13 starts as a rookie in 2022… Favorite pro baseball team is the Los Angeles Angels and MLB Player is Mike Trout… Favorite food is cheeseburgers… Enjoyed a multi-hit game and reached base three times with a single, double and walk on Feb. 23 at Memphis… Had the tough half of the cycle in Game 2 of the Feb. 28 doubleheader vs. Niagara, recording his first career triple and third career home run. He had three hits and reached base six times in the doubleheader.
• #15 Bryan Hatch, 1B, Fr. (Des Plaines, Ill. / St. Viator) – Wants to own a tiger someday… Favorite food is chicken parmesan and favorite MLB team is the Chicago Cubs… Had three hits on Feb. 28 in the second game of a doubleheader at Niagara.
• #9 Connor Giusti, 3B, Gr. (Hoffman Estates, Ill. / Fremd) – Played in 117 games over four seasons at Wisconsin Oshkosh before transferring to Valpo for the 2024 campaign... Named to the all-defensive team and all-conference honorable mention at Oshkosh... Big Chicago Bears fan and loves football... Hit his 11^th collegiate home run and first at Valpo on Opening Night on Feb. 16, 2024 at Alabama State... Homered in consecutive games – April 28, 2024 at UIC and April 30, 2024 at Western Michigan... Had a dramatic, game-tying, three-run homer with two outs in the top of the ninth on May 10, 2024 at Murray State, completing a six-run rally to force extras... Hit his fifth home run in a nine-game span on May 14, 2024 at Northwestern…. Finished the 2024 season with a .252 average and seven dingers while appearing in 46 games and making 44 starts… Hit his first home run of the season as part of back-to-back jacks with Austin Amburgey on March 8 at Ohio State… Hit his second home run of the season and the ninth of his career in the first game of a doubleheader on March 15 at Illinois… Drilled a home run on March 25 at Purdue.
• #19 Kade Reinertson, C, R-Sr. (Huxley, Iowa / Ballard Community) – Played in 18 games before suffering a season-ending injury in 2023 after playing in 22 games and making 17 starts in 2022... Did not see game action as a rookie in 2021... Named second team all-state in high school in 2019... Also played football and basketball in high school... Kicks with his left foot but does everything else right-handed... Enjoys golfing and disc golfing… Played in 30 games and made 25 starts in 2024… Drilled his third career home run and first of the season on Feb. 22, 2025 in Game 2 of a doubleheader at Memphis.
• #2 Aidan Thaxton, 2B, R-Fr. (Chicago, Ill. / St. Ignatius College Prep) – Did not see action last season, retaining four years of eligibility… Part of Elite Baseball training academy (2020-2023)… Won a regional and sectional championship as a junior in high school and another regional crown as a senior… Two-time All-Conference honoree in Chicago Catholic League in high school… Enjoyed his first collegiate multi-hit game on March 7 at Ohio State… Hit his first collegiate home run in the first game of a March 15 doubleheader at Illinois… Had two hits on March 25 at Purdue.

Inside the Assistants: Adam Brian is back for a second season on staff, while Brady Nowicki and Kyle Schmack have joined the coaching staff after playing for the Beacons last season. 

• Adam Brian is in his second season on Valpo's staff after graduating from Bradley. He works with the team's catchers, assists with pitching and leads recruiting efforts. Brian's father Braden Brian played college baseball at Eastern Kentucky and was selected in the 30^th round of the 1986 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Montreal Expos.
• Brady Nowicki has joined the coaching staff after playing for the team each of the last three seasons. He will coach the squad's hitters and infielders.  
• Kyle Schmack played for Valpo each of the last five seasons. The son of head coach Brian Schmack, Kyle will coach first base and assist Nowicki in coaching the team's hitters.