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Valparaiso University

Calendar

ILS Walk-Off Win
2
Illinois State ILS 14-16
3
Winner Valparaiso VALPO 8-19
Illinois State ILS
14-16
2
Final
3
Valparaiso VALPO
8-19
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
Illinois State ILS 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 7 2
Valparaiso VALPO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 3 8 0

W: Guazzo, Adam (1-1) L: Rybarczyk, Tresdon (1-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Valpo Rallies, Walks Off with 10-Inning Win Over Illinois State

The Valparaiso University baseball team faced a 2-0 deficit as late as the ninth inning and was down to its final out still trailing, but the Beacons rallied to extend the game to extra innings and eventually walked off with a 3-2 win over Illinois State in Sunday's series finale at Emory G. Bauer Field. Kevin Denty (Tinley Park, Ill. / Marian Catholic) had a two-out base hit in the bottom of the 10th to score the winning run.
 
How It Happened
  • Starting pitchers Spencer Boynton and Tyrelle Chadwick both pitched scoreless baseball through the first three frames, but it was Illinois State that got on the board in the top of the fourth on a two-out, two-run homer by Brayden Bakes.
  • Boynton left after four innings of work to give way to redshirt sophomore Ryan Kruse (Detroit, Mich. / U of D Jesuit), who faced the minimum over the next three innings, allowing just an infield single that was erased on a caught stealing. While Kruse cruised through those three frames, the Beacon bats could not muster up any runs against Chadwick.
  • Redshirt sophomore Adam Guazzo (Huntley, Ill. / Huntley) took over pitching duties for the Beacons in the top of the eighth and flipped a scoreless frame. He retired the side in order in the top of the ninth.
  • The leadoff batter of the bottom of the ninth was retired by Chadwick, and it looked as if the Illinois State righty may polish off a shutout. However, Liam Patton (Barrington, Ill. / Warsaw) singled to deep left, starting a stretch of three straight hits that also saw Connor Giusti (Hoffman Estates, Ill. / Fremd) and Denty get in on the act. A run scored on the single up the middle by Denty, which prompted a pitching change.
  • After an intentional walk and a fielder's choice that saw Illinois State notch the second out of the ninth inning at the plate, the Redbirds were protecting a 2-1 lead with two outs and the bases full. Redshirt freshman Case Sullivan (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel) was hit by a pitch to force in the tying run. The Beacons stranded the max and the game continued to a 10th inning.
  • Guazzo turned in a scoreless top of the 10th. Redshirt freshman Aidan Thaxton (Chicago, Ill. / St. Ignatius College Prep) was hit by a pitch to begin the bottom of the 10th, and later came around to score the winning run on a walk-off single by Denty down the right-field line.
Inside the Game
  • Valpo rallied to win when trailing after the eighth inning for the first time this season. The Beacons were previously 0-12 when trailing after eight. This was also the team's first win when trailing after six innings as Valpo was previously 0-16 under those circumstances.
  • This marked Valpo's first win when trailing after eight innings since beating Belmont 10-9 on a "balk off" on April 13 of last season.
  • This represented Valpo's first walk-off win since Brady Renfro's walk-off home run to beat Missouri State 7-6 in 12 innings on April 19 of last season. Three of Valpo's last four conference home wins have come in walk-off fashion.
  • This marks Valpo's first one-run win since April 19 of last season, the aforementioned 7-6 victory over Missouri State. The Beacons were previously 0-4 in one-run games this year.
  • This marked the second straight Sunday where a Valpo game ended in walk-off fashion as the Beacons were on the wrong end last week at Evansville.
  • This marked the team's first extra-inning game of the season and first since May 10 of last year at Murray State.
  • Kruse worked three shutout innings of one-hit ball while walking none. Boynton allowed four hits and one walk while striking out one and permitting two runs in four innings.
  • Guazzo picked up the win with three shutout innings of two-hit, one-walk ball while striking out two. This marked the first win of his collegiate career.
  • Denty and Ilitch had two hits apiece, and Ilitch reached base on three occasions. Denty has a team-high eight multi-hit games this year.
  • Thaxton reached base for the 10th straight game.
  • Valpo outhit Illinois State 8-7. The Bakes home run was the only extra-base hit by either team in the game.
Up Next
The Beacons (8-19, 3-6) will visit Missouri State for a three-game weekend series in Springfield, Mo. beginning on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. The contest will air on ESPN+.  
 
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