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Valparaiso University

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Ilitch Murray State
11
Winner Murray State MUR 25-9
10
Valparaiso VALPO 8-24
Winner
Murray State MUR
25-9
11
Final
10
Valparaiso VALPO
8-24
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Murray State MUR 0 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 5 11 13 3
Valparaiso VALPO 0 4 0 1 0 1 0 4 0 10 12 1

W: Lebron, Derek (2-0) L: Cottrill, Josh (0-2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Baseball Drops Series Opener to Racers in Heartbreaking Fashion

All was right in the Valparaiso University baseball universe when the Beacons broke a 6-6 deadlock by scoring four times in the bottom of the eighth, but Murray State responded with five of its own in the top of the ninth to win 11-10 in Thursday's series opener at Emory G. Bauer Field. Patrick Ilitch (Detroit, Mich. / University Liggett), Spencer Warfield (Fullerton, Calif. / Servite) and Case Sullivan (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel) all homered for the Beacons.
 
How It Happened
  • Valpo played from behind early as Murray State scored three runs in the top of the second including a solo homer by Will Vierling.
  • The Beacons bounced right back in the bottom of the inning as Ilitch and Warfield launched back-to-back jacks on consecutive pitches. Connor Giusti (Hoffman Estates, Ill. / Fremd) was along for the ride on the Ilitch home run before Warfield's shot to left tied the game at three. Later in the inning, a run-scoring single by Aidan Thaxton (Chicago, Ill. / St. Ignatius College Prep) put the Beacons in front.
  • Murray State posted its second straight three-run frame in the third to grab a 6-4 lead.
  • Valpo came back with single tallies in the fourth and sixth innings to tie the game at six. Sullivan's shot accounted for the fourth-inning run, before the Beacons got an unearned tally in the sixth.
  • After having a rare crooked number put up against him in consecutive innings, Valpo ace Connor Lockwood (Libertyville, Ill. / Libertyville) settled in throughout the middle part of the game. He put up zeros in each of the next five innings and retired the side in order in four of those frames.
  • The Beacons broke through in the eighth, an inning that started with a double by Sullivan before a string of four straight singles. Four runs crossed the plate in the inning to give Valpo a commanding 10-6 lead.
  • Lockwood went back out for the ninth inning in hopes of finishing what he started. He retired the leadoff batter, but the next three men reached, the third of which was an RBI double, prompting head coach Brian Schmack to make a pitching change.
  • Redshirt junior Josh Cottrill (Pewaukee, Wis. / Pewaukee) came in with intentions of nailing down the save as he entered with Valpo leading 10-7 and runners at second and third with one away. He struck out the first batter he faced to put Murray State down to its final out before Vierling was intentionally walked. A bases-clearing triple by Luke Mistone tied the game at 10, before a throwing error by the shortstop allowed the go-ahead run to score.
Inside the Game
  • Lockwood received no decision, going 8 1/3 innings and allowing nine runs on 12 hits while walking one and striking out three. He has pitched at least eight innings in four starts this season including each of the last three.
  • Lockwood is up to 59 strikeouts and 70 2/3 innings pitched this season, leading the Missouri Valley Conference in both categories. He is 20 innings pitched ahead of the next closest MVC pitcher, as of the end of Valpo's game on Friday.
  • Eight Valpo batters were in the hit column including four multi-hit games. Sullivan was on base five times with a double, home run and three walks to lead the way.
  • This marked Valpo's sixth one-run loss of the season as the Beacons fell to 1-6 in games dictated by a single run. Five of those six one-run losses have come in conference play as the Beacons have dropped a one-run game in each of the team's five Valley series. Five of the team's 10 losses in league play have come by the slimmest of margins.
  • The game was strangely similar to last year's series opener between Valpo and Murray State on May 10 in Murray, Ky. The Beacons lost by the identical score of 11-10, that one in 10 innings. That game also featured a big top of the ninth with Valpo leveling the score at 10 by scoring six times, but Murray State walked it off in the bottom of the 10th.
  • There was plenty of traffic on the bases for the Beacons, who had 12 hits, drew seven walks and had two hit batters. The dozen hits were the team's most in league play this season and most since 14 on March 18 at Ball State.
  • This marked the second straight conference game that Valpo hit at least three home runs after four on Sunday at Missouri State.
  • Ilitch hit his sixth career home run and fifth of the season, Sullivan spanked his fourth round-tripper of the year and Warfield picked up No. 5 for his career including three this season.
Up Next
The Beacons (8-24, 3-10 MVC) will try to bounce back on Friday at 1 p.m. at Emory G. Bauer Field. Admission is free and the game will be aired on ESPN+.
 
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