The Valparaiso University baseball team came from behind for the second straight day, only this time host Evansville rebounded to win 5-4 on a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth on Sunday afternoon at Braun Stadium. The Beacons had six extra-base hits including a home run by senior Connor Giusti (Hoffman Estates, Ill. / Fremd) and two doubles apiece by Kevin Denty (Tinley Park, Ill. / Marian Catholic) and Austin Amburgey (Miamisburg, Ohio / Miamisburg).
 
How It Happened

• The leadoff Ace in the bottom of the first reached on an error and eventually came around to score an unearned run, crossing the dish on a wild pitch.
• Evansville extended the lead in the second, when a walk and a balk set up a run-scoring single up the middle by Ty Rumsey to make it 2-0.
• The Aces added another on a solo shot by Harrison Taubert in the third. Catcher Kade Reinertson (Huxley, Iowa / Ballard Community) cut down a runner at second on the pitch before the home run, a key out to prevent a multi-run shot.
• Valpo packed the sacks in the fifth thanks to a double by Amburgey and a pair of hit batters, but the Beacons stranded the max.
• In an inning that started in a torrential downpour, Valpo got on the board in the sixth as Amburgey's second double of the game drove in a run to make it 3-1.
• Valpo moved a step closer in the seventh as Denty drove in a run with his second double of the day. The Beacons had a chance to score the tying run in that inning, but the runner from second was out at the plate on a single to right to end the inning.
• Valpo starter Spencer Boynton (Tampa, Fla. / Seffner Christian) kept the Beacons in the game by putting up zeros in each of his final three frames as Evansville did not score in the fourth, fifth or sixth. The Aces did add one against the Beacon bullpen in the seventh as Drew Howard tripled and scored to make it 4-2.
• Giusti led off the eighth inning with a home run, cutting the lead to 4-3.  
• Righty Adam Guazzo (Huntley, Ill. / Huntley) posted a zero in the bottom of the eighth to keep it a one-run deficit.
• After a one-out single by Reinertson in the top of the ninth, Valpo scored the tying run on a double by Case Sullivan (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel) to level the score at four.
• Matt Flaherty hit a pinch-hit walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth.

Inside the Game

• Boynton received no decision despite a quality outing, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks over six innings.
• Denty tied his season high with three hits, recording two doubles and a single. He is up to seven doubles on the season.
• Amburgey had one total double in 15 games this season before doubling twice on Sunday.
• Giusti's home run was his second of the series, fifth of the season, 12^th of his Valpo career and 22^nd of his collegiate career.
• Reinertson reached base three times including twice being hit by a pitch.
• This was Valpo's third one-run game of the season, all losses (at Memphis, at Indiana State).
• Valpo dropped two of three but the Beacons have captured one win in six straight weekend series including the last four against two Big Ten opponents (including the defending Big Ten regular-season champions), the defending Missouri Valley Conference regular-season champs and the defending MVC Tournament champs.

Up Next
The Beacons (6-17, 2-4) will finally play a game at Emory G. Bauer Field on Tuesday as Milwaukee comes to town for a 3 p.m. first pitch. Admission is free and the game will air on ESPN+.