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Valparaiso University

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Denty Fall File
3
Valparaiso VALPO 5-16, 1-3 MVC
7
Winner Univ. of Evansville UE 8-17, 3-1 MVC
Valparaiso VALPO
5-16, 1-3 MVC
3
Final
7
Univ. of Evansville UE
8-17, 3-1 MVC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Valparaiso VALPO 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 3 9 1
Univ. of Evansville UE 0 2 1 0 0 1 3 0 X 7 10 0

W: Deverman (2-2) L: Lockwood, Connor (2-4) S: Hansmann (1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Valpo Falls to Evansville in Series Opener

The Valparaiso University baseball team had nine hits including four for extra bases, but host Evansville prevailed 7-3 in Friday's series opener at Braun Stadium in Evansville, Ind. Aidan Thaxton (Chicago, Ill. / St. Ignatius College Prep) and Kevin Denty (Tinley Park, Ill. / Marian Catholic) had two hits apiece, including one each for extra bases, while senior Connor Giusti (Hoffman Estates, Ill. / Fremd) cracked a home run for the second straight game.
 
How It Happened
  • Valpo had a runner in scoring position in each of the first two innings, but couldn't push across a run in either frame. A two-out, two-run single by Drew McConnell gave Evansville the lead in the second inning.
  • UE's Cal McGinnis had a solo shot in the third to up the lead to 3-0.
  • Giusti spanked a solo home run to left to put the Beacons on the board in the top of the fourth.
  • Denty had a one-out, ground-rule double in the sixth, but was stranded at second.
  • Valpo starting pitcher Connor Lockwood (Libertyville, Ill. / Libertyville) worked a 1-2-3 fourth inning and posted another zero in the fifth. Evansville picked up an unearned run in the sixth but he minimized the damage to a single tally as the Aces stranded two more.
  • Thaxton led off the top of the seventh with a triple to deep left center, then scampered home on a wild pitch to cut the Evansville edge to 4-2.
  • Evansville added three in the bottom of the seventh to expand the lead to 7-2.
  • The Beacons picked up their second triple of the game in the top of the eighth as Spencer Warfield (Fullerton, Calif. / Servite) sent one into the right-field corner and drove in a run to cut the lead to 7-3, but that stood as the final score.
Inside the Game
  • Giusti's home run was his fourth of the season and his second straight game with a long ball as he also left the yard on Tuesday at Purdue. He now has 11 home runs in his two-year Valpo career.
  • Thaxton's triple was the first of his career.
  • Warfield's triple was the second of his career with both coming this season.
  • Valpo had two triples total in the first 20 games of the season and had two in Friday's series opener.
  • Lockwood allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits while striking out four and walking three in six innings.
  • Junior Alexander Morrison (Pasadena, Calif. / Canyon) pitched the final 1 1/3 innings out of the Valpo bullpen, retiring all four men he faced.
  • UE held a narrow 10-9 edge in the hit column.
Up Next
The Beacons (5-16, 1-3) will continue the weekend series on Saturday at noon. Please note that the game will start earlier than originally scheduled due to the weather forecast. The game will air on ESPN+ with links to live video and stats available on ValpoAthletics.com.  
 
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