The Valpo softball team suffered its first shutout of Missouri Valley Conference play Tuesday, falling 3-0 to visiting UIC at the Valpo Softball Complex.
 
How It Happened

• UIC took the lead seven pitches into the game, as a leadoff triple was followed by an RBI single.
• The Flames got a two-run single from their nine-hole hitter to take a 3-0 lead in the second inning, which turned out to be the game's final runs.
• Valpo had a leadoff base hit in the third, fourth and fifth innings, but was unable to take advantage of any of them. The Beacons' best opportunity at scoring came with a leadoff double in the fifth, but that runner was erased on a line-drive double play before a single and a UIC error.
• Valpo's last seven batters were retired in order as the Flames completed the shutout.

 
Inside the Game

• Valpo was blanked for just the third time this season and for the first time since a March 9 loss at Marshall.
• The Beacons were unable to advance a runner past second base in the defeat.
• Valpo was limited to just four hits and two walks, as no Beacon reached base more than once.
• Kim Rodas (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon) had Valpo's lone extra-base hit with her third double of the season.
• Mack Gallagher (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East [MSU Moorhead]) walked in the first inning to extend her on-base streak to 16 straight games and push her season total to 28 — most in the MVC and tied for eighth-most in a season in program history.
• Erin Metz (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) started in the circle and took the loss, falling to 6-2 as she tossed the first 1.2 innings. Sydney McDermott (Stout, Ohio/Portsmouth West) threw 3.1 shutout innings of relief, while Azalya Lopez (Corona, Calif./Eleanor Roosevelt [MSU Moorhead]) closed it out with two hitless innings.

 
Next Up
Valpo (17-18, 6-8 MVC) stays at home this weekend for a three-game MVC series against Illinois State. The series begins Friday afternoon at 3 p.m.