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2025 SFT Azalya Lopez action shot
3
Winner Valparaiso VALPO 18-23, 7-12 MVC
1
Belmont BEL 31-12, 15-5 MVC
Winner
Valparaiso VALPO
18-23, 7-12 MVC
3
Final
1
Belmont BEL
31-12, 15-5 MVC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Valparaiso VALPO 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 8 0
Belmont BEL 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 3 1

W: Lopez, Azalya (8-10) L: Giles, Ellie (5-3) S: Metz, Erin (4)

Game Recap: Softball |

Strong Pitching, Timely Hits for Softball in Win at Belmont

A three-run third inning was punctuated by a timely two-out hit from Lyna Vasquez (Moreno Valley, Calif./Valley View), and Azalya Lopez (Corona, Calif./Eleanor Roosevelt [MSU Moorhead]) and Erin Metz (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) took care of the rest in the circle as the Valpo softball team earned a 3-1 win over second-place Belmont Friday afternoon in Nashville, Tenn.
 
How It Happened
  • Valpo threatened to open the scoring in each of the first two innings, putting two on with two out in the first and then loading the bases with two away in the second. But the Beacons were unable to take advantage of either opportunity, stranding five runners over the two frames.
  • The third time was indeed the charm for the Beacon offense. Lopez got things started with a one-out double to the wall in left-center, and two pitches later, Kayden Krug (Milford, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) knocked a pitch back up the middle to plate Lopez and give Valpo the lead.
  • After the second out of the inning, Kaia Garnica (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) beat out an infield single to pass the bat. Kyndal Shively (Bloomington, Ill./University) then watched five pitches go by to draw a walk and load the bases for Vasquez.
  • The junior fouled off the first two pitches she saw, but yet again, the third time proved to be the charm. Vazquez's poke at the 0-2 pitch dropped into shallow center, just out of the reach of a diving effort from the Belmont center fielder, and when the dust settled, Krug and pinch-runner Kaiah Fenters (Speedway, Ind./Speedway) had crossed the plate and Vasquez was standing on second with a two-run double and the Beacons leading 3-0.
  • Meanwhile, Lopez was in the midst of a stretch of retiring eight straight in the circle — a run which ended with a hit batter and a walk with two outs in the fourth. The next Belmont batter, representing the potential tying run, sent a fly ball to deep left, but Lauren Sena (McHenry, Ill./McHenry) tracked it down near the wall to maintain the 3-0 lead.
  • Valpo got a runner into scoring position in each of the next two innings, but did not add to its lead. Lopez pitched around a one-out single in the fifth, but the Bruins finally got to her for the first time in the sixth with a one-out solo homer.
  • With the 3-1 advantage heading into the bottom of the seventh, Lopez got a foul out from the leadoff hitter before the Beacons went to Metz out of the pen. The rookie walked the first batter she faced, but bounced back to get a grounder and then closed things out with a fly ball.
 
Inside the Game
  • Friday's win came over a Belmont squad which entered the game in second place in the MVC standings and came into the weekend 57th nationally in RPI.
  • This marks the second straight season the Beacons have defeated the Bruins.
  • Vasquez's two-run two-bagger doubled her RBI output for the season, as she entered the game with just two driven in. In fact, the junior's last RBI had come back on Feb. 21.
  • Kim Rodas (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon) went 2-for-3 at the plate for her second consecutive multi-hit game and her fifth of the season. Lopez went 2-for-4 with a double as well, her sixth multi-hit game this year.
  • Madison Vrastil (Oak Forest, Ill./Andrew) reached base twice as well with a hit and a walk, and also registered a stolen base, making her a perfect 14-for-14 this season on the basepaths.
  • For as good as her performance at the plate was Friday, Lopez was even more impressive in the circle. The junior went 6.1 innings, giving up just three hits and one run as she improved to 8-10 on the season.
  • Lopez's start in the circle was her first since starting at pitcher March 28 against Evansville. After that game, she had appeared in relief in 11 consecutive games before sticking to second base for all seven innings yesterday.
  • Metz recorded her fourth save of the year by picking up the last two outs, matching Lopez's season total — both of which are tied for sixth in a single season in program history. As a team, Valpo's eight saves this year are just one off the program single-season record.
  • Metz made her 38th appearance of the season in the circle, seventh-most in a single season in program history.
 
Next Up
Valpo (18-23, 7-12 MVC) takes to the field for the rubber game of the three-game set with Belmont Saturday afternoon at noon.
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