The Valpo softball team took aim at an MVC series sweep Sunday at the Valpo Softball Complex, but Drake had other ideas, as the visiting Bulldogs earned a 6-1 victory in the Beacons' final home game of the season.
 
How It Happened

• Drake opened the scoring in the top of the third, as a leadoff double was followed by a grounder and a sacrifice fly to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.
• Valpo got a runner into scoring position with one out in the first and had two on with two out in the third, but was unable to convert on either opportunity.
• The Beacons leveled the score in the bottom of the fifth without the benefit of a hit. Lyna Vasquez (Moreno Valley, Calif./Valley View) reached on a Drake error to lead off the inning, followed by a walk to Madison Vrastil (Oak Forest, Ill./Andrew).
• After a sacrifice bunt, Mack Gallagher (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East [MSU Moorhead]) was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Azalya Lopez (Corona, Calif./Eleanor Roosevelt [MSU Moorhead]). The junior hit a grounder to first, where she was forced for the second out, but the Bulldogs' attempt to come home to turn a double play was belated as Vasquez crossed the plate to tie the game.
• It took just two batters into the top of the sixth for Drake to regain the outright lead, as a leadoff error was followed by a home run from Emma Dighton.
• The Beacons got the potential tying runs on base in the bottom of the sixth with two outs, but were unable to take advantage.
• Drake closed the scoring with a three-run seventh inning, two of the runs scoring with two away.

 
Inside the Game

• Despite Sunday's loss, Valpo still took the series from the Bulldogs, 2-1 — their third MVC series win of the season.
• The Beacons were limited to three hits on Sunday, none of which came with runners in scoring position.
• Valpo did draw five walks, pushing its season total to 156 free passes — just five shy of cracking the program's single-season top-five.
• Gallagher reached base twice in the loss, getting hit by a pitch and drawing a walk — the latter her 35^th free pass of the season, tied for third-most in a single season in program history.
• Lopez reached base twice as well, going 1-for-3 with a walk and driving in the Beacons' lone run for her 25^th RBI of the season — trailing only Gallagher in that department.
• Sydney McDermott (Stout, Ohio/Portsmouth West) took the tough-luck loss despite giving up just four hits and two earned runs in her 5.1 innings of work.

 
Next Up
Valpo (20-26, 9-14 MVC) closes out the regular season next weekend at UNI. The three-game set begins Friday evening at 5 p.m.