Valparaiso University baseball sophomore Kevin Denty (Tinley Park, Ill. / Marian Catholic) made a sprawling catch on the warning-track in deep right field, helping the Beacons preserve an 8-6 victory over Milwaukee in the first game played at Emory G. Bauer Field this season on Tuesday.
 
How It Happened

• The game got off to a high-scoring start as each team scored three times in the opening inning. Milwaukee tallied three runs on four hits in the top of the frame before Valpo responded with three in the bottom half, highlighted by a two-out, two-run single by Austin Amburgey (Miamisburg, Ohio / Miamisburg). The Beacons made the Panther starter pay for his wildness, as two walks and a hit batter started that inning.
• Valpo starting pitcher Lucas Foley (Deer Park, Ill. / Lake Zurich) settled down in inning number two, retiring the side in order. Two more walks from the Milwaukee starter began the bottom of the second, then the Panthers went to the bullpen. Kevin Denty (Tinley Park, Ill. / Marian Catholic) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in a run, and eventually Spencer Warfield (Fullerton, Calif. / Servite) notched a two-out double down the left-field line to finish off a four-run inning and give Valpo a 7-3 lead.
• Foley overcame the rocky start to put up zeros in each of the final four innings of his outing. The southpaw eventually attained the win after permitting three runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out two in five frames.
• In the fifth inning, Warfield ripped a home run to left, opening the lead to 8-3.
• The Valpo bullpen was touched for three sixth-inning runs, all of which came after two were out including a two-run homer that made it 8-6.
• Freshman Nick Baffa (Glenview, Ill. / Notre Dame College Prep) turned in two clean innings before redshirt sophomore Ryan Kruse (Detroit, Mich. / U of D Jesuit) worked a 1-2-3 ninth to nail down the save, an inning that was capped by Denty's game-ending grab.

Inside the Game

• This marked the team's first game played at Emory G. Bauer Field this season. The Beacons did play two home games at UIC's Curtis Granderson Stadium on the last day of February. In a bit of an oddity, Valpo had the latest Emory G. Bauer Field opener since 2021 while also having the earliest home opener in program history this season. The Beacons played at home on the final day of February and first day of April, but did not play at home in the month of March.
• Valpo prevailed despite being outhit 11-4. The four hits marked Valpo's fewest in a victory since April 5, 2014. Amazingly enough, Valpo had four or fewer hits and won in both games of a doubleheader that day vs. Wright State, winning the opener 3-1 with three hits and the nightcap 2-0 with four hits.
• Foley had his longest outing of the season and the longest since his collegiate debut, when he went seven innings and struck out 11 on Feb. 17, 2024 at Alabama State.
• Foley picked up his second career win and first this season. Kruse recorded his first collegiate save. Baffa's two shutout innings marked his first stint of two innings or more in his young career.
• The home team continued to have success in the head-to-head series as the home squad has won seven straight Milwaukee/Valpo matchups.
• Warfield accounted for two of the team's four hits and drove in three. He had both of the team's extra-base knocks including his fourth career home run and second of the season. Half of Warfield's 18 hits this season have gone for extra bases.

Up Next
The Beacons (7-17, 2-4) will have their first home Missouri Valley Conference series of the season this weekend as Illinois States comes to town for a three-game series that begins on Friday at 3 p.m. at Emory G. Bauer Field. Admission is free and the game will air on ESPN+.