Ninth-inning magic is becoming a staple for the Valparaiso University baseball team, as the Beacons surged from behind in the final frame for the second straight game on Friday night at Hammons Field in Springfield, Mo. This time, a game-tying blast by redshirt freshman Aidan Thaxton (Chicago, Ill. / St. Ignatius College Prep) that came with Valpo down to its final strike was not enough, as Missouri State's Zack Stewart hit a walk-off job in the bottom of the inning to lift the first-place Bears to a 5-4 victory on a night where starting pitcher Connor Lockwood (Libertyville, Ill. / Libertyville) put together another strong start for the Brown & Gold.
 
How It Happened

• Lockwood worked scoreless ball while facing just one over the minimum over the first two innings and struck out each of the first two batters in the third. However, a walk and a two-run homer by Nick Rodriguez gave the Bears a 2-0 lead.
• Lockwood zipped through the bottom of the fourth to keep the deficit at two. The first two Beacons in the top of the fifth were sent down, but back-to-back hit batters set the stage for senior Connor Giusti (Hoffman Estates, Ill. / Fremd), who drilled a three-run shot onto the grassy berm area in left to give Valpo a 3-2 lead.
• Lockwood continued to roll in the fifth and sixth, sending down the side in order in each of those frames. In total, he retired 11 straight after the third-inning home run, but Missouri State broke through with three hits in the seventh including a two-out, two-run double to take a 4-3 lead.
• A diving catch in left by Patrick Ilitch (Detroit, Mich. / University Liggett) helped the Beacons pitch a scoreless eighth and keep the deficit at one.
• Valpo was down to its final strike with nobody on base in the top of the ninth, when Thaxton lifted a home run to left to tie the game and send the third-base dugout into a state of jubilation.
• In the bottom of the inning, Stewart's two-out home run ended the contest.

Inside the Game

• Giusti's home run was his sixth of the season and his 13^th in a Valpo uniform. He leads the team in the home run department and has 23 total collegiate home runs.
• Thaxton's home run was his second of the season and first since March 15 at Illinois.
• Lockwood received no decision despite another strong outing, going eight innings and allowing four runs on six hits while walking two and striking out seven. The right hander has pitched eight or more innings three times this season including each of the last two games.
• Lockwood has struck out seven or more four times this year. He is up to a league-leading 56 strikeouts for the season with his seven on Friday, surpassing his season total of 50 from last year, which tied for the team lead.
• This marked the second straight game where Valpo rallied to tie the score in the ninth after the Beacons scored two to get even and eventually won 3-2 in 10 innings on Sunday vs. Illinois State.
• This game also brought back memories of the last time Valpo played a Friday night series opener in Springfield – a 4-3, 10-inning defeat on April 28, 2023. Patrick Ilitch hit a game-tying three-run homer with two outs in the ninth before Missouri State won 4-3 on a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10^th.
• Three of Valpo's last four games have been decided by the slimmest of margins. Five of the team's last six have been decided by two runs or fewer. Of the team's seven conference losses, four – one each weekend – have come in one-run games.
• Valpo's last two road games have both ended on walk-off home runs.
• Valpo's six hits all came from different players on Friday as no Beacons had multi-hit games.
• Friday's setback came against the team that was picked to win the Missouri Valley Conference and currently sits atop the standings.

Up Next
The Beacons (8-20, 3-7) will continue the series in Springfield by battling the Bears at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The game will air on ESPN+.