The Valparaiso University baseball team continued its recent run of stellar starting pitching, but once again came up on the wrong end of a pitchers' duel as visiting UIC used a three-run eighth to prevail 3-0 on Friday afternoon at Emory G. Bauer Field. Valpo starting pitcher Connor Lockwood (Libertyville, Ill. / Libertyville) turned in another quality start with eight strong frames.
 
How It Happened

• UIC starting pitcher Dillon Schueler sent down the first 14 Beacon batters and had a perfect game intact into the fifth inning before it was disrupted on an error by the shortstop.
• The no-hitter remained active all the way until there was one out in the seventh, when Liam Patton (Barrington, Ill. / Warsaw) lashed a clean single to left center. Patton was then erased on a double play.
• A double and a steal of third set up UIC with a runner 90 feet away and only one away in the sixth, but third baseman Thomas Cooper (Brentwood, Tenn. / Ravenwood) cut down the runner at the plate on a fielder's choice bouncer, and later in the inning UIC stranded men at the corners as the Beacons escaped with the game still scoreless.
• Lockwood worked around a leadoff walk in the seventh – the only base on balls he permitted all game – to fire another scoreless frame.
• Valpo committed three throwing errors in a clunky eighth inning, including two on one play where a potential double play ball that would have ended the inning with just one run across turned into a defensive disaster.
• Valpo went down in order in each of its final two offensive innings.

Inside the Game

• The Beacon bats will continue to try to break out of a recent cold spell on Saturday, as the team has now been shutout in four straight conference games and scored two runs or fewer in six straight.
• On the positive side of the ledger, Valpo moundsmen continued to deal, as the Beacons have limited the opposition to three runs or fewer in each of the last three conference contests.
• Lockwood went eight innings and scattered eight hits while walking just one and striking out five. He was charged with three runs (two earned). He has gone at least eight innings in four of his last five starts.

Up Next
The Beacons (8-32, 3-16 MVC) will host UIC on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Emory G. Bauer Field. Admission is free and the game will air on ESPN+.