Next Up in Valpo Baseball: The Valparaiso University baseball team will close out a four-game homestand with its second midweek home date of the year as Northern Illinois comes to town on Tuesday. Valpo head coach Brian Schmack played at Northern Illinois from 1992 to 1995 and is the lone ex-Huskie to play in the big leagues in the last 45 years. 
 
Last Time Out: The Beacons suffered heartbreak in Thursday's series opener, falling 11-10 to Murray State in a game the Beacons led 10-6 through eight innings. Valpo snapped a 6-6 tie with a four-run eighth, but Murray State responded with five in the top of the ninth to pick up an 11-10 victory in a game where Patrick Ilitch, Spencer Warfield and Case Sullivan all homered for the Beacons. The Racers won 16-2 in seven innings on a windy Good Friday before a four-run first was the difference in a 5-1 win in the series finale on Saturday.
 
Following the Beacons: Tuesday's game will air on ESPN+. Todd Ickow (play-by-play) and Leo Staudacher (analyst) will have the call. For links to live video and stats, visit ValpoAthletics.com. For in-game updates, follow @ValpoBaseball on X.
 
Head Coach Brian Schmack: Brian Schmack (210-358) is in his 12th season in charge of the program. He ranks third in program history in seasons coached and games coached as he coached his 500^th game on March 17, 2024 at Campbell. On April 19 vs. Missouri State, he became the third head coach in program history to secure his 200^th win. Schmack, a member of the 2003 Detroit Tigers, served as pitching coach/associate head coach at Valpo for seven seasons prior to his promotion.
 
A Look Back at 2024: Valpo finished 14-38 overall and 6-21 in Missouri Valley Conference play last season and hopes to return to the MVC Tournament field in 2025. Kaleb Hannahs earned Second Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors last season, while Kyle Schmack finished one home run shy of tying the program's career and single-season records. The team launched 71 home runs, the second most in program history and most since 2001. Alex Ryan made an incredible leaping catch that was featured at No. 4 on SportsCenter's Top 10 plays, robbing a grand slam as part of a 20-0 victory at UIC on April 28. The 2024 campaign also saw Valpo post a fielding percentage of .970 that ranked fourth in program history. The season also saw head coach Brian Schmack reach the 200-win threshold.
 
Series Notes: Valpo is 4-25-1 all-time against Northern Illinois, a series that goes all the way back to 1946. Last season, the two teams got together in DeKalb as a low-scoring game early evolved into a slugfest late on a windy Tuesday afternoon. The clubs combined for 13 runs in the seventh and eighth innings alone while combining for 19 runs on 28 hits in total. Northern Illinois won 10-9 on a walk-off home run by Cooper Cohn. Last year marked the first matchup since 2019, when Valpo took two of three in an NIU home series that was moved to Chicago State's field. This will mark NIU's first visit to Valpo since May 3, 2017, an 8-2 victory for the Beacons.
 
In the Other Dugout – Northern Illinois

• Lost two of three to Akron this past weekend in DeKalb, winning the series opener 5-4 in 10 innings before dropping the remaining games.
• Picked to finish seventh of 11 in the Mid-American Conference baseball preseason poll and currently sit in a tie for 10^th.
• JP Gauthier, who leads Northern Illinois in batting average at .333 with seven home runs and 26 RBIs, is the older brother of Valpo freshman infielder Javin Gauthier.
• Under the direction of second-year head coach Ryan Copeland.
• In addition to the Schmack and Gauthier connections between the programs, two members of the NIU baseball support staff hold Valpo degrees. Athletic trainer Kaleb Ellison earned his master's degree from Valpo in 2020 and spent two seasons as the Valpo baseball athletic trainer, while sports information director Mike Haase earned his bachelor's in communications from Valpo in 2007.

Starting Pitcher Profile

• #32 RHP Nick Baffa, Fr. (Glenview, Ill. / Notre Dame College Prep) – Made his collegiate debut with a scoreless inning on Feb. 22 at Memphis… Also hurled a shutout frame in his second outing on March 8 at Ohio State… Loves to take naps almost every day… Favorite TV show is SpongeBob SquarePants… Played for Athletic Barn Baseball, Future Games and WWBA Jupiter Florida Chicago Scouts Association… Entered the March 25 game at Purdue with two on and nobody out in the seventh and worked out of the jam, ending the inning with consecutive strikeouts… Worked two shutout innings in Valpo's April 1 victory over Milwaukee… Made his first collegiate start on April 15 at Notre Dame, pitching shutout ball over the first three innings but running out of steam in the fourth, when he allowed five runs and did not record an out.

Notes Wrapping Up Murray State (April 17-19): L 11-10, L 16-2 (F/7), L 5-1

• Connor Lockwood received no decision in the series opener, 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.
• Eight Valpo batters were in the hit column in the series opener including four multi-hit games. Case Sullivan was on base five times with a double, home run and three walks to lead the way.
• Thursday 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.
• Thursday's 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 10^th.
• In Game 1 of the series, 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.  
• Patrick Ilitch hit his sixth career home run and fifth of the season, while Sullivan spanked his fourth round-tripper of the year and Spencer Warfield picked up No. 5 for his career including three this season in the series opener.
• The best work on the mound in Friday's middle game came from senior Kolt Davis who was not charged with any runs in his 1 1/3 innings while working around a hit and two walks. He pitched a scoreless top of the seventh on a day where goose eggs were few and far between.
• Ilitch homered for the second straight game and the fourth time in four games on Friday. He has six total long balls for the season and seven for his collegiate career.
• In Friday's game, senior Liam Patton had two of the team's six hits. He owned multiple hit games in each of the first two games in the series.  
• Nine of Murray State's 13 Friday hits went for extra bases including two homers and a double by Conner Cunningham, the ninth hitter in the order.
• Valpo held a 6-5 edge in the hit column in Saturday's series finale with Kevin Denty and Ilitch combining for five of the team's six hits. Half of Valpo's six hits were doubles.
• Ilitch just missed his fifth home run in the last five games as his two-bagger banged off the wall. He added a bunt single to the mix, pushing his hitting streak to 11.
• Denty's three hits on Saturday equaled a season high as that marked his fourth three-hit game of the year.
• Redshirt sophomore Thomas Cooper made his first start since March 22, getting the nod at DH after missing time with a shoulder injury.

Among League Leaders

• Spencer Warfield's two triples are tied for sixth in the MVC.
• Connor Giusti has been hit by a pitch 10 times, tied for the seventh most in the league.
• Connor Lockwood leads the Missouri Valley Conference with 59 strikeouts and is the league-leader with 70 2/3 innings pitched. He is well ahead of Evansville's Kevin Reed, who is second in the league in innings pitched at 53.0. 
• Adam Guazzo's two saves rank tied for 10th in the league.

Notes Wrapping Up April 15 – Notre Dame 7, Valpo 1

• The Beacons drew seven walks, the team's highest total in the last 11 games dating back to seven on March 25 at Purdue and tied for the team's most in the last 21 games. 
• The Irish held a 12-3 edge in the hit column.
• Connor Giusti reached base four times via three walks and a hit by pitch.
• Kaden Kiser has pitched scoreless innings in each of his last two outings including the game against Notre Dame and was charged with a run in only one of his four appearances so far this season.
• Hunter Frost made his first appearance since March 14 at Illinois and Joe Seiber had his first since March 28 at Evansville as both returned from injuries. The righties made successful returns to the rubber, pitching scoreless frames.

Notes Wrapping Up Missouri State (April 11-13): L 5-4, L 10-5, L 25-7

• Connor Giusti homered twice in the series, making his season total seven, his Valpo total 14 and his career collegiate total 24.
• Aidan Thaxton's home run on Friday was his second of the season and first since March 15 at Illinois.
• Connor 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 in the series opener. 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.
• Friday 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 in the series finale vs. Illinois State.
• The Friday 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.
• Four of Valpo's conference losses – one each weekend – have come in one-run games.
• Valpo's six hits all came from different players on Friday as no Beacons had multi-hit games.
• The weekend series came against the team that was picked to win the Missouri Valley Conference and currently sits atop the standings.
• Austin Amburgey collected three hits to lead the team in Saturday's game, tying a season high with his second three-hit game, both coming in the last four games as he had three a week prior in the Saturday game against Illinois State.
• Kevin Denty had a big day for the Beacons on Saturday, reaching base in all four plate appearances. He notched a pair of singles and was hit by a pitch twice. The multi-hit game was his team-leading ninth of the season.
• Kade Reinertson picked up a pair of hits including a double on Saturday, his third multi-hit effort of the year.
• The 10 hits on Saturday tied for the team's most in league play this season.
• Patrick Ilitch enjoyed a two-homer game in Sunday's series finale. Ilitch's home runs lifted his season total to four and his career total to five. This marked the first multi-homer game by a Beacon since Carson Husmann had two on April 28 of last season at UIC. Three of Ilitch's five career home runs have come at Hammons Field.
• Sullivan's long ball on Sunday was his third of the season.
• Valpo's four home runs in Sunday's series finale marked a season high and the team's most since hitting eight on April 28 of last season at UIC. 

#SCTop10 Tag

• Redshirt freshman Aidan Thaxton made an acrobatic tag of an Illinois State baserunner in the April 6 series finale, a play that was featured on SportsCenter's Top 10 plays that evening.
• The Thaxton tag checked in at No. 3 on the popular daily countdown, giving Valpo baseball its first appearance since Alex Ryan's robbed grand slam on April 28 of last season at UIC.
• This marked the fifth time during the 2024-25 academic year that Valpo Athletics has been heralded on SportsCenter's Top 10. Thaxton joins Caron Tyler (football, leaping touchdown on Sept. 7 at Youngstown State), Gary Givens III (football, game-winning TD catch at 0:00 on Nov. 23 vs. Davidson), Devon Ellis (men's basketball, poster dunk on Nov. 30 vs. Northern Illinois) and Justus McNair (buzzer-beater on Dec. 20 at Western Michigan).

Denty Seals Wins with Bat, Glove

• Kevin Denty capped off two different Valpo victories in the same week, each in a very different manner.
• His sprawling catch on the right-field warning track preserved an 8-6 victory over Milwaukee on April 1.
• In the next Beacon win, he traded his glove for his bat in the game's biggest moment, ripping a walk-off single to right in the bottom of the 10^th to send off a celebration after a 3-2 win over Illinois State in the April 6 series finale.
• Denty gave Valpo its first walk-off win since Brady Renfro's game-ending home run to beat Missouri State 7-6 in 12 innings on April 19 of last season. Three of Valpo's last four home conference wins have come in walk-off fashion.
• The Denty knock capped Valpo's first win when trailing after eight innings since beating Belmont 10-9 on a "balk-off" on April 13 of last season.
• The Beacons were previously 0-12 when trailing after eight. This was also the team's first win when trailing after six as Valpo was previously 0-16 under those circumstances.
• The Denty walk-off marked the second straight Sunday where a Valpo game ended in that manner as the Beacons were on the wrong end the previous week at Evansville.

Locked In

• In the April 4 series opener vs. Illinois State, Connor Lockwood recorded his second complete game of the season and first of the nine-inning variety after he threw an eight-inning CG in the Feb. 14 season opener at Samford. Unfortunately for the Beacons, Valpo is 0-2 when Lockwood goes the distance this year.
• The Valpo ace scattered seven hits while allowing two runs, walking one and striking out six. He needed 120 pitches to notch all 27 outs.
• This was Lockwood's third career CG and first time going all nine since a win over Bradley on March 30, 2024.
• This marked Valpo's second 2-1 loss of the season as the Beacons also fell by that score on March 22 at Indiana State.
• Lockwood is now up to 56 strikeouts this season, already more than his season total of 50 from last season, which tied for the team lead.

Lockwood Named MVC Pitcher of the Week

• Valpo pitcher Connor Lockwood was named the Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week on March 24, earning the award for the third time in his career.
• Lockwood became the first Valpo player to earn a weekly award from the league office this season and became Valpo's first three-time MVC Pitcher of the Week since joining the league.
• Valpo has captured the award 10 total times since joining The Valley as Lockwood is joined by Colin Fields (twice), Bryce Konitzer, Jacob Rosenkranz, Jake Miller, Bobby Nowak and Easton Rhodehouse.
• Lockwood's honor came after he pitched Valpo to a victory over defending MVC regular-season champion Indiana State, helping the Beacons beat the Sycamores for the first time since 2007, ending a 25-game head-to-head losing streak.
• Lockwood, the game's winning pitcher, threw 120 pitches over seven innings and did not allow an earned run as all three runs that crossed the plate against him were unearned. He racked up 10 strikeouts while scattering five hits and walking one. This marked the third time this season that he had seven or more strikeouts and one or fewer walks. His 10 strikeouts were one shy of a career high set on Feb. 22 of this season at Memphis, when he fanned 11.
• His game score of 70 by D1Baseball had him rank among the top 100 performers of the weekend, as released by D1Baseball. 

Snapping the Sycamore Streak

• Valpo's 8-3 win at Indiana State on March 21 to open Missouri Valley Conference play snapped a 25-game head-to-head losing streak.
• The Beacons picked up their first win over the Sycamores since 2007.
• The squad was previously 0-20 against Indiana State since joining the Missouri Valley Conference prior to the 2018 season.
• The victory came over an Indiana State team that went 44-15 (22-5 MVC) and won the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season crown last year. Valpo has wins over the defending MVC and Big Ten regular-season champions this year.
• This marked the first time Valpo opened conference play with a win since joining The Valley prior to the 2018 season. Valpo had lost seven straight league lid-lifters dating back to a March 18, 2016 Horizon League win over Northern Kentucky.

Beating B1G Foes

• Valpo picked up its second Big Ten win of the season on March 15 with a 13-10 win at Illinois.
• Valpo knocked off the defending Big Ten regular-season champions and an NCAA Regional team from last season. The Illini won 35 games last season and went 18-6 in Big Ten play.
• The Beacons beat the Illini for the second time in the last three head-to-head matchups after also winning in 2018.
• Valpo enjoyed a 10-7 series-opening win on March 7 at Ohio State, the program's second power-conference win in the last three seasons after beating Kansas 11-3 on Feb. 18, 2023.
• The win over the Buckeyes snapped a 10-game skid against power-conference competition.
• The Beacons earned their first Big Ten win since 2018, when they prevailed 11-7 at No. 25 Illinois.
• The win came against an Ohio State club that won 29 games last season.
• Since Brian Schmack took over as head coach, Valpo has wins over four different Big Ten opponents – Ohio State, Michigan State, Illinois and Purdue.

Early Opener

• This year marked the earliest Valpo has ever opened the home portion of the season.
• Valpo did not play a home game until March 19 in 2024 and March 28 in 2023 but started the home docket on Feb. 28 this season.
• That was Valpo's first nonconference home weekend series since hosting St. Bonaventure in March 2022 and just the third nonconference home weekend in Brian Schmack's 11 years as head coach. Valpo hosted Butler for a nonconference home weekend in 2019.

Maka Pushing the Home Run List 

• Ryan Maka slugged a home run in both games of the Feb. 14 season-opening doubleheader at Samford and added his third of the season on March 15 at Illinois. He followed up with his fourth of the year on March 18 at Ball State.
• Maka moved his career home-run total to 20, moving to within one of cracking the program's all-time top 10.
• Maka has already matched his season home run total from a year ago.
• One more home runs would put Maka in a tie for 10^th in career program history, joining Dan Schrum (1999-2002), Jamie Sykes (1994-1997), Dale Polonus (1986-1988), Marc Boggio (1999-2003) and Sam Shaikin (2016-2019).

Inside the Schedule

• Valpo will once again face a competitive schedule, which started against a Samford program that won 36 games last season.
• Valpo hosted the earliest home games in program history against a Niagara team that went 38-17 overall and 20-4 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference en route to a league title and NCAA Regional appearance last year.
• After the early-season home weekend, Valpo went back on the road for 15 straight, starting with a set at Ohio State (March 7-9), a 29-win Big Ten Conference club in 2024. That trip continued with a visit to national baseball powerhouse Vanderbilt (March 11) of the Southeastern Conference, a 38-win NCAA Regional team last year against whom Valpo played a competitive, one-run game.
• The Beacons headed to Illinois (March 14-16) for the final nonconference weekend series. The Illini went 35-21 overall and 18-6 in Big Ten Conference play last season on their way to the NCAA Regional.
• Valpo began MVC play against instate foe Indiana State (March 21-23), the defending Valley regular-season champions and a team that won two NCAA Regional games as part of a 44-win season in 2024.
• The league docket featured a visit to Evansville, the defending MVC Tournament champion and a team that won 39 games including a regional title and made an NCAA Super Regional appearance last season.
• Valpo played 10 of its first 24 games against NCAA Regional teams from a year ago.

Beacon Blasts

• Valpo launched 71 home runs last season, surpassing the 1985 season (64) to climb into second in program history.
• Valpo held its highest single-season home run total during the BBCOR bat era that began in 2011.
• The 71 bombs marked the program's most since 2001, a year where the team launched a program-record 81 long balls.
• This marked the first time ever that Valpo has hit at least 50 home runs in back-to-back years, as the Beacons hit 50 long balls in 2023, the fifth most in program history.

Valpo Single-Season Top 5 – Team Home Runs
Rank    Year    HR
1          2001    81
2          2024    71
3          1985    64
4          1999    55
5          2023    50
 
Other Record Book Updates from 2024

• The team had a .970 fielding percentage that ranks fourth in program history, the squad's second straight season at .970 or better.
• Kyle Schmack finished his career with 794 at-bats, third in program history behind Chris Manning (2011-2014, 896) and Michael Arensdorff (2003-2007, 833). He scored 146 runs (sixth in program history), had 223 hits (sixth), 45 doubles (t-sixth), 35 home runs (second), 131 RBIs (fifth) and 98 walks (t-sixth).
• Schmack finished 2024 with 17 home runs, one shy of tying the single-season record as well.
• Brady Renfro finished eighth in program history in career fielding percentage (.989), eighth in putouts (845) and fourth in walks (103).
• Alex Thurston finished fourth in program history in career assists (431).
• Kaleb Hannahs finished tied for sixth in program history in career doubles (45).

Pitching Profiles – Bullpen Bits

• #1 Jack Thompson, R-Fr. (Rosemount, Minn. / Rosemount) – Redshirted as a freshman at Valpo in 2024… All-conference honoree for a team that was the Minnesota 4A state runner-up in high school… Hobbies include fishing, snowboarding and relaxing on the lake… Favorite TV show is Game of Thrones.
• #6 LHP Kaden Kiser, So. (Columbus, Ohio / Hamilton Township) – Played at Bryant & Stratton College in 2024, where he made nine appearances including five starts in his lone JUCO season… Is ambidextrous, writing with his right hand and playing sports with his left (except golf, which he does with his right)… Favorite MLB players are Chris Sale and Elly De La Cruz… Favorite MLB team is the Cincinnati Reds… Was the bright spot of the Valpo pitching staff on April 5 vs. Illinois State, working a scoreless ninth… Flipped a scoreless frame on April 12 at Missouri State… Worked a shutout inning of relief on April 15 at Notre Dame.
• #14 RHP Bennett Musser, So. (Round Lake, Ill. / Mundelein) – Made five relief appearances during his freshman season in 2024… Threw a one-hitter in high school in the state semifinal game… Hopes to become a professional poker player… Favorite TV show is Tom and Jerry.
• #16 RHP Josh Cottrill, R-Jr. (Pewaukee, Wis. / Pewaukee) - Redshirted in 2021 during his first season on campus, then logged 8 2/3 innings in seven games out of the bullpen in 2022… Two-time all-conference performer in high school… Set his school's record for highest batting average by a freshman at .531 in 2017… Hobbies include Guitar Hero... Can juggle... Loves to travel… Posted a 5.63 ERA while making 14 appearances including one start in 2023... Made his first collegiate start and logged four innings on May 19, 2023 vs. Illinois State... Matched the longest outing of his career and earned his second collegiate win in his Feb. 17 season debut in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Alabama State. He allowed just one run on four hits in six innings while walking two and striking out seven… Posted a 3.75 ERA while striking out 12 and walking four in 12 innings over three starts in 2024 – at Alabama State, at Alabama and at Elon – before going down with an injury… Made his first appearance back from Tommy John surgery on March 11, starting at No. 16 Vanderbilt… Pitched in relief on March 15 at Illinois and worked two scoreless innings on March 22 at Indiana State… Pitched three solid innings of relief on April 12 at Missouri State, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits while walking two and striking out three.
• #24 Adam Guazzo, R-Fr. (Huntley, Ill. / Huntley) – Was sidelined and did not see action during his first season on campus in 2023... Two-time all-conference performer in basketball in addition to earning all-conference on the diamond as a senior in high school... Set his high school's record for rebounds in a single season on the hardwood with 320 in 2021-22... Favorite TV shows are Breaking Bad and Ozarks... Made his first collegiate appearance and start by pitching four innings on Feb. 18, 2024 at Alabama State, allowing three runs (one earned)... Made his second start of the season on March 8, 2024 in Game 2 of a doubleheader at The Citadel, logging six innings of two-run (one earned), two-hit ball while striking out six and walking none in a game that Valpo won in extra innings... Started and worked four solid innings, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out five on April 30, 2024 at Western Michigan... Nailed down his first collegiate save with 1 2/3 scoreless inning on Feb. 23 at Memphis… Tossed a shutout frame on March 7 at Ohio State to earn his second save… Allowed one run on one hit over two frames of relief on March 15 at Illinois… Entered the March 25 game at Purdue with the Beacons in a jam in the bottom of the eighth and limited the damage as he was not charged with a run while allowing no hits, striking out two and recording all three outs in the inning… Earned his first collegiate win with three shutout innings of two-hit ball in the 3-2, 10-inning victory over Illinois State on April 6… Worked two scoreless innings on April 19 vs. Murray State.
• #26 RHP Ryan Kruse, R-So. (Detroit, Mich. / U of D Jesuit) – In his second season in the program after redshirting at Northern Kentucky in 2023… Made two appearances – both against nationally-ranked competition – and was not charged with any earned runs in 2024… Enjoys golfing, swimming, snowboarding, working out and tennis… Favorite movie is The Dark Knight… Worked a scoreless inning in the series finale at Samford on Feb. 16, 2025, his first action of the season… Did not allow a run in an inning of work on March 9 at Ohio State… Pitched two scoreless, hitless innings to finish out Valpo's victory at Indiana State on March 21, helping the Beacons snap a 25-game head-to-head losing streak… Nailed down his first collegiate save on April 1 vs. Milwaukee with a 1-2-3 ninth… Pitched three shutout innings of one-hit, no-walk ball that played a crucial role in a 3-2 victory over Illinois State on April 6… Tossed two scoreless innings on April 19 vs. Murray State.
• #27 RHP Kolt Davis, Gr. (Johnson, Neb. / Johnson-Brock) – Played at Wayne State from 2021-2024, where he was a three-time all-conference honoree… Made 31 career appearances and had a 4-2 record while starting twice and nailing down two saves… Favorite MLB team is the New York Yankees and player is Derek Jeter… Hopes to become a human trafficking investigator… Pitched a scoreless sixth inning on March 25 at Purdue… Worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief on April 18 vs. Murray State, serving as a bright spot in that game out of the Valpo bullpen.

• #31 RHP Joe Seiber, R-Jr. (Homer Glen, Ill. / Lockport) - Third team junior college All-American at Collee of DuPage… Favorite MLB team is the Chicago White Sox… Favorite movie is Billy Madison… Joined the program prior to the 2024 season as a junior college transfer… Earned his first Valpo save with two shutout innings of one-hit ball while allowing no walks to close out a 3-2 win at The Citadel in Game 1 of a doubleheader on March 8, 2024. Tossed three shutout innings while allowing one hit and walking none on March 29, 2024 vs. Bradley... Tossed two scoreless innings of relief on April 9, 2024 at Milwaukee... Earned the victory in relief on April 19, 2024 vs. Missouri State... Flipped two shutout innings on April 30, 2024 at Western Michigan... Pitched two shutout innings on May 14, 2024 at Northwestern… Is the primary returning reliever from 2024 back in 2025… Was charged with no runs on two hits and no walks in two innings of work in the March 14 series opener at Illinois… Made his first Valpo start on March 25 vs. Ball State and allowed two runs on two hits and no walks in two innings… Started on March 25 at Purdue and allowed one run on two hits and one walk in two innings… Pitched a shutout inning on April 15 at Notre Dame, seeing his first action since March 28 at Evansville after missing time with an injury… Pitched a shutout inning on April 15 at Notre Dame, seeing his first action since March 28 at Evansville after missing time with an injury.

• #35 RHP Bryce Richter, Gr. (Minneapolis, Minn. / Holy Family Catholic) – Joined Valpo's program for the 2025 season after playing four years at North Alabama, where he graduated magna cum laude and was on the dean's list all four years… Appeared in 20 games out of the bullpen during his four-year career at North Alabama… Threw a no-hitter as a sophomore in high school… Also played four years of soccer and holds the school record for shutouts by a goalkeeper with 19… Pursuing an MBA at Valpo… Favorite food is ground bison and rice with a little Chick-Fil-A sauce.
• #37 Alexander Morrison, Jr. (Pasadena, Calif. / Canyon) – Spent two years at Los Angeles Mission College before arriving at Valpo… Hobbies include fishing and going to the beach… Grew up in Bonney Lake, Wash. riding BMX and snowboarding… Allowed one run and no earned runs while logging an inning of relief in his Valpo debut on Feb. 16, 2025 at Samford… Pitched the final 1 1/3 innings out of the Valpo bullpen, retiring all four men he faced on March 28 at Evansville.
• #41 Deuce Musial, R-Fr. (De Pere, Wis. / Notre Dame Academy) – Redshirted while at Arkansas State in 2024… Awarded a top-1000 national ranking by Perfect Game in high school and led his team to back-to-back regional titles… Is the great-great-great nephew of National Baseball Hall of Famer Stan "The Man" Musial, a 24-time National League All-Star, seven-time NL batting champion, three-time MVP and one of the greatest players in St. Louis Cardinals history (1941-1944, 1946-1963).
• #42 LHP Lucas Foley, Fr. (Deer Park, Ill. / Lake Zurich) – 2023 IHSBCA 4A First Team All-State and PBR Third Team All-State... Conference Pitcher of the Year as a senior in high school in 2023... Enjoys water and snow skiing... Has broken his collarbone four times... Favorite musical group is Cold Play... Went seven innings and allowed just one run on five hits while walking none and striking out 11 on Feb. 17, 2024 at Alabama State, getting the start in the second game of a doubleheader and making his collegiate debut. He was one of two freshmen in the country with 11 or more strikeouts in a game over the opening weekend of the season... Allowed one run on five hits and one walk in four innings of a start on March 3, 2024 vs. Binghamton, receiving no decision... Moved to the bullpen and tossed two scoreless innings on March 22, 2024 at Southern Illinois... Struck out the side in his first inning of work and racked up six strikeouts in just 2 2/3 frames of relief on March 26, 2024 at No. 7 Vanderbilt. He was charged with one unearned run on three hits and one walk... Worked three shutout innings while striking out four, issuing no walks and permitting two hits to help Valpo beat Bradley on March 31, 2024… Made his first 2025 start on Feb. 14 at Samford and took the loss after allowing eight runs (seven earned) on six hits and three walks in two innings… Started and went five innings while allowing three runs on seven hits to earn his first win of the season on April 1 vs. Milwaukee.

Position Player Profiles – Projected Lineup (based on recent games) 

• #2 Aidan Thaxton, 2B, R-Fr. (Chicago, Ill. / St. Ignatius College Prep) – Did not see action last season, retaining four years of eligibility… Part of Elite Baseball training academy (2020-2023)… Won a regional and sectional championship as a junior in high school and another regional crown as a senior… Two-time All-Conference honoree in Chicago Catholic League in high school… Enjoyed his first collegiate multi-hit game on March 7 at Ohio State… Hit his first collegiate home run in the first game of a March 15 doubleheader at Illinois… Had two hits on March 25 at Purdue… Had his first career triple on March 28 at Evansville… Checked in at No. 3 on SportsCenter's Top 10 plays for his acrobatic tag of an Illinois State baserunner on April 6… Reached base in each game of the series vs. Illinois State (April 4-6), extending his on-base streak to 10… Moved to the leadoff spot in the lineup for the first time in his collegiate career on April 5 vs. Illinois State… Hit a game-tying, ninth-inning home run with Valpo down to its final strike on April 11 at Missouri State.
• #21 Austin Amburgey, 1B, Jr. (Miamisburg, Ohio / Miamisburg) – Posted a .391 batting average at Marietta College in 2024, ranking third in the league in hitting… Posted a .311 batting average as a freshman in 2023… Has been to three of the top four golf majors and to 14 Major League Baseball stadiums… Favorite TV show is Survivor… Hit his first Valpo home run as part of back-to-back home runs with Connor Giusti on March 8 at Ohio State… Collected three hits on April 12 at Missouri State.

• #33 Liam Patton, DH, Gr. (Barrington, Ill. / Warsaw) – Spent his first three seasons at Wabash College, where he hit .384 with six home runs, 50 RBIs and a .582 slugging percentage in 2023... Had a go-ahead, two-run single with two outs in the ninth inning on March 5, 2024 vs. Jacksonville, a game Valpo eventually dropped 6-5 on a walk-off in the bottom of the ninth... Came up clutch again in the second game of a doubleheader on March 8, 2024 at The Citadel, when his bases-clearing double in the top of the 10^th spurred a 10-5 victory... Hit his first Valpo home run on April 19, 2024 vs. Missouri State… Totaled 28 appearances and 26 starts in 2024… Doubled in Game 2 of a season-opening doubleheader on Feb. 14, 2025 at Samford, part of a two-hit output… Had four RBIs in the March 7 series opener at Ohio State, making it seven RBIs in a two-game span after recording three in the final game against Niagara the previous weekend… Homered in each of the first two games of the series at Illinois on March 14 and 15… Saw his 18-game on-base streak come to an end on April 4 vs. Illinois State… Had consecutive multi-hit games on April 17 and 18 vs. Murray State.

• #9 Connor Giusti, 3B, Gr. (Hoffman Estates, Ill. / Fremd) – Played in 117 games over four seasons at Wisconsin Oshkosh before transferring to Valpo for the 2024 campaign... Named to the all-defensive team and all-conference honorable mention at Oshkosh... Big Chicago Bears fan and loves football... Hit his 11^th collegiate home run and first at Valpo on Opening Night on Feb. 16, 2024 at Alabama State... Homered in consecutive games – April 28, 2024 at UIC and April 30, 2024 at Western Michigan... Had a dramatic, game-tying, three-run homer with two outs in the top of the ninth on May 10, 2024 at Murray State, completing a six-run rally to force extras... Hit his fifth home run in a nine-game span on May 14, 2024 at Northwestern…. Finished the 2024 season with a .252 average and seven dingers while appearing in 46 games and making 44 starts… Hit his first home run of the season as part of back-to-back jacks with Austin Amburgey on March 8 at Ohio State… Hit his second home run of the season and the ninth of his career in the first game of a doubleheader on March 15 at Illinois… Drilled a home run on March 25 at Purdue… Homered twice in the weekend series at Evansville, leaving the yard in the Friday game on March 28 and the finale on March 30, his third homer in a four-game span… Homered in consecutive games at Missouri State on April 12 and April 13, lifting his season total to seven… Reached base four times on April 15 at Notre Dame, doing so via three walks and a hit by pitch.
• #5 Kevin Denty, RF, So. (Tinley Park, Ill. / Marian Catholic) – Played in 29 games and made 27 starts as a freshman in 2024, ranking fourth on the team in batting average at .278… Hit .300 in 10 league games including eight starts in 2024… Had a season-high four hits including two home runs on March 1, 2024 at Elon… Eats Chipotle three times per week… Favorite MLB team is the Chicago White Sox… Hit his first home run of the season and the fourth of his collegiate career on March 14 at Illinois and was a triple shy of the cycle in that game… Tied a season high with three hits including two doubles on March 30 at Evansville… Made a sprawling catch on the right-field warning track to clinch an 8-6 win over Milwaukee on April 1… Delivered a walk-off hit to secure a 3-2, 10-inning victory over Illinois State on April 6… Reached base in all four plate appearances on April 12 at Missouri State… Had his fourth three-hit game of the season on April 19 vs. Murray State.
• #25/28 Patrick Ilitch, LF, R-Jr. (Detroit, Mich. / University Liggett) – Did not see game action in 2022… On April 28, 2023 at Missouri State, was inserted into the starting lineup less than an hour before game time due to an injury-related scratch and had just two career at-bats prior to the game. He delivered by smacking his first career home run, leveling the score at three in the bottom of the ninth after his team trailed 3-0 with two outs and nobody on base earlier in the inning… Appeared in four games and made one start in 2024… Part of the Ilitch family that owns the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings and Little Caesars Pizza… Had two doubles on March 29, 2025 at Evansville… Hit his second home run of the season and the third of his career on April 4 vs. Illinois State… Had Valpo's first multi-homer game of the season with two long balls on April 13 at Missouri State… Pushed his hitting streak to 11 and had an extra-base hit in all three games of the April 17-19 series vs. Murray State including a pair of home runs.
• #34 Case Sullivan, SS, R-Fr. (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel) – Joined the program after redshirting at Marshall in 2024, where he was a member of the president's list with a perfect 4.0 GPA… Is a triplet with his two siblings, Colin and Lily… Lily plays softball at the University of Akron and Colin is an engineering student at Purdue… Favorite pro baseball team is the Boston Red Sox and player is Mookie Betts… Had four hits on his first day in a Valpo uniform on Feb. 14 at Samford, going 3-for-3 with a walk in Game 2 of the season-opening doubleheader… Homered in the first game of the series at Memphis on Feb. 22, the first of his collegiate career… Played solid shortstop in addition to going 3-for-5 with two doubles on Feb. 23 at Memphis… Walked four times and scored three runs on Feb. 28 in Game 2 of a doubleheader vs. Niagara. He became the first Beacon with four walks in a game since Kyle Schmack on April 30, 2023 at Missouri State… Hit his second home run of the season on March 29 at Evansville… Hit a game-tying RBI double in the top of the ninth on March 30 at Evansville… Cracked his third home run of the season on April 13 at Missouri State… Reached base five times with a double, homer and three walks on April 17 vs. Murray State.
• #4 Spencer Warfield, CF, R-Jr. (Fullerton, Calif. / Servite) – Played in five games in 2024 before being shut down for the season with an injury… Appeared in 21 games and made 15 starts in 2023 after seeing action in 18 games and making 13 starts as a rookie in 2022… Favorite pro baseball team is the Los Angeles Angels and MLB Player is Mike Trout… Favorite food is cheeseburgers… Enjoyed a multi-hit game and reached base three times with a single, double and walk on Feb. 23 at Memphis… Had the tough half of the cycle in Game 2 of the Feb. 28 doubleheader vs. Niagara, recording his first career triple and third career home run. He had three hits and reached base six times in the doubleheader… Tripled on March 28 at Evansville, his second of the season… Had two of the team's four hits, ripping a double and home run while driving in three, in an April 1 victory over Milwaukee… Homered on April 17 vs. Murray State.
• #19 Kade Reinertson, C, R-Sr. (Huxley, Iowa / Ballard Community) – Plreayed in 18 games before suffering a season-ending injury in 2023 after playing in 22 games and making 17 starts in 2022... Did not see game action as a rookie in 2021... Named second team all-state in high school in 2019... Also played football and basketball in high school... Kicks with his left foot but does everything else right-handed... Enjoys golfing and disc golfing… Played in 30 games and made 25 starts in 2024… Drilled his third career home run and first of the season on Feb. 22, 2025 in Game 2 of a doubleheader at Memphis… Hit his fourth career home run on March 29 at Evansville… Reached base three times including twice being hit a pitch on March 30 at Evansville… Had a pair of hits on April 12 at Missouri State, his third multi-hit game of the season.

Inside the Assistants: Adam Brian is back for a second season on staff, while Brady Nowicki and Kyle Schmack have joined the coaching staff after playing for the Beacons last season. 

• Adam Brian is in his second season on Valpo's staff after graduating from Bradley. He works with the team's catchers, assists with pitching and leads recruiting efforts. Brian's father Braden Brian played college baseball at Eastern Kentucky and was selected in the 30^th round of the 1986 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Montreal Expos.
• Brady Nowicki has joined the coaching staff after playing for the team each of the last three seasons. He will coach the squad's hitters and infielders.  
• Kyle Schmack played for Valpo each of the last five seasons. The son of head coach Brian Schmack, Kyle will coach first base and assist Nowicki in coaching the team's hitters.