Skip To Main Content

Valparaiso University

Calendar

2025 SFT Carson Kuhlmann action shot
3
Winner Valparaiso VALPO 14-16, 3-6 MVC
2
UIC UIC 4-30, 0-9 MVC
Winner
Valparaiso VALPO
14-16, 3-6 MVC
3
Final
2
UIC UIC
4-30, 0-9 MVC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Valparaiso VALPO 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 3 9 1
UIC UIC 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 11 2

W: Metz, Erin (3-1) L: MCINTOSH (2-13) S: Lopez, Azalya (2)

15
Winner Valparaiso VALPO 15-16, 4-6 MVC
3
UIC UIC 4-31, 0-10 MVC
Winner
Valparaiso VALPO
15-16, 4-6 MVC
15
Final
3
UIC UIC
4-31, 0-10 MVC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H E
Valparaiso VALPO 0 3 3 0 3 6 15 10 1
UIC UIC 0 1 2 0 0 0 3 6 5

W: Metz, Erin (4-1) L: FORDHAM (0-3)

Game Recap: Softball |

Softball Sweeps Tuesday Twinbill at UIC

The Valpo softball team took care of business Tuesday in an MVC doubleheader at UIC, edging the host Flames 3-2 in the opener before exploding for a 15-3 win to close the night. Carson Kuhlmann (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) tied a program single-game record by scoring four runs in the nightcap, while the Beacons drew 11 walks as a team in that contest — second-most in a single game in program history.
 
How It Happened – Game One
  • Valpo opened the scoring in the top of the second. Sophia Leitzen (Orfordville, Wis./Lakewood) reached on a single with one out and eventually came around to score on a UIC error, followed two batters later by a Marissa Jackson (Willis, Mich./Huron) RBI single which plated Kaia Garnica (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central).
  • UIC got one run back in its half of the second, but Kayden Krug (Milford, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) made sure the Flames wouldn't tie the game, throwing a strike to the plate to cut down a second UIC runner trying to steal.
  • The freshman Leitzen crossed the plate for the second time in as many innings in the top of the third. She started a two-out rally by working a full-count walk and scored two batters later on an RBI base knock from Kim Rodas (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon).
  • UIC had a runner into scoring position with less than two outs in each of the next three innings, but Valpo's pitching and defense combined to keep the Flames off the board.
  • The Flames hit a two-out solo homer in the bottom of the seventh to move within one run, but while their next batter singled, they tried to advance to second on an overthrow and Mack Gallagher (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East [MSU Moorhead]) fired to Krug — now playing second base — to apply the tag and get the final out.
 
How It Happened – Game Two
  • Valpo posted its first crooked number of the game in the top of the second, pushing three across the plate to take the lead for good. Madison Vrastil (Oak Forest, Ill./Andrew) blooped a bases-loaded single just over the circle, Jackson drew a full-count walk and Gallagher dropped a run-scoring single into right-center field.
  • UIC scored one in its half of the second to make it a 3-1 game, but the Beacons responded with another three-spot in the third. Vrastil had a bases-loaded groundout for her second RBI in as many innings and Jackson followed with a two-run knock back through the middle, pushing the lead to 6-1.
  • The Flames countered with a two-out, two-run double in their next turn at the plate to make it a 6-3 game.
  • After a quiet fourth inning, Valpo came up with another three-run frame in the fifth, taking advantage of a walk, two wild pitches and two UIC errors to pull out to a 9-3 lead.
  • The Beacons closed the door on the game with their biggest inning, plating six runs in the top of the sixth. Rodas delivered a bases-loaded single to score the first run of the frame, followed immediately by a two-run single from Kuhlmann. Gallagher closed things out with the biggest blow, lining a pitch to the wall in left-center with the bases loaded to score three.
 
Inside the Games
  • The doubleheader sweep was just the second in program history over UIC.
  • Combined with the Beacons' walk-off win over Evansville in last weekend's series finale, Valpo has its first three-game winning streak within conference play since reeling off six straight MVC wins late in the 2018 campaign.
  • Valpo scored 15 runs in the nightcap, its largest output ever against the Flames. The 15 runs were the program's most in a single game since plating 24 against Seton Hall Feb. 8, 2014.
  • The Beacons racked up 10 hits and 11 walks in the nightcap, the latter mark tied for the second-most in a single game in program history — only a 12-walk performance against Bethune-Cookman Feb. 29, 2020 topped it.
  • Kuhlmann scored four runs out of the nine-spot in the batting order in the nightcap win, tied for the most runs scored in a single game in program history. The sophomore is the 11th to do so and the first since Alexis Johnson did so last year on Feb. 26 against Morehead State.
  • The top three in the Beacons' order went 7-for-11 with three walks in the nightcap win. Vrastil was 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored and two RBIs, Jackson was 3-for-3 with a walk and three RBIs and Gallagher was 2-for-4 with a walk and four RBIs. For Vrastil and Jackson, it was a season high in RBIs, while Gallagher matched her season best.
  • Rodas and Natalie Bush (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) scored three runs apiece as well.
  • Erin Metz (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) earned the win in the nightcap — her second of the day to improve to 4-1 on the year — with two innings of shutout relief. The rookie picked up the win in the opener and she started and tossed the first four innings, giving up just one run.
  • Azalya Lopez (Corona, Calif./Eleanor Roosevelt [MSU Moorhead]) tossed the final three innings in the opener to record her second save of the year.
  • Leitzen reached base in both of her plate appearances in the opener with a walk and a hit, scoring a pair of runs. Jackson and Krug each had two-hit games in the opener.
 
Next Up
Valpo (15-16, 4-6 MVC) heads to central Illinois this week for a three-game series at Bradley. The series opener against the Braves is slated for Friday evening at 5 p.m.
Print Friendly Version