The Valparaiso University baseball team dropped both games of a doubleheader on Saturday at Emory G. Bauer Field, falling 9-1 in the opener and 10-0 in seven innings in the second game. UIC's Brandon Bak threw a seven-inning no-hitter in Game 2.
How It Happened – Game 1
- UIC jumped in front by scoring twice in the opening inning, but Valpo got one back in the bottom of the frame as Kevin Denty (Tinley Park, Ill. / Marian Catholic) stroked a single and eventually came around to score on a sac fly by Austin Amburgey (Miamisburg, Ohio / Miamisburg) that made it 2-1.
- UIC's Luke Nowak hit a two-run homer in the second to make it 4-1, then he added a run-scoring single as part of a two-run fourth that made 6-1.
- The Flames got one more in the fifth, adding an unearned tally against the Valpo bullpen to balloon the lead to six at 7-1.
- The Flames added single runs in the sixth and seventh innings, and that stood as the Game 1 final.
Inside the Game – Game 1
- Bright spots included Alexander Morrison (Pasadena, Calif. / Canyon) and Kolt Davis (Johnson, Neb. / Johnson-Brock) out of the bullpen, as they combined for 2 1/3 innings of relief and were charged with a combined no runs on one hit. Davis retired the side in order in his only frame.
- The Valpo defense committed four errors.
- Denty led Valpo, totaling two of the team's six hits. Case Sullivan (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel) doubled for the team's only extra-base knock.
- All three runs scored against the Valpo bullpen were unearned.
How It Happened – Game 2
- UIC scored three unearned runs in the second inning.
- Thomas Curry hit a solo home run to lead off the third. The Flames would score three times in that inning.
- Curry's second home-run of the game was a two-run shot as part of a four-run fourth to make it 10-0.
- The Flames were held scoreless over the final two frames.
- After drawing a walk in the first inning, Valpo did not get a base runner until a leadoff walk in the sixth, and that man was quickly erased on a double play.
- With one out in the seventh, there was an error by the UIC third baseman. That would be the only other Valpo base runner of the contest.
Inside the Game – Game 2
- Strong pitching from Hunter Frost (Farmington, Minn. / Farmington) and Adam Guazzo (Huntley, Ill. / Huntley) were bright spots as they combined for three shutout innings with Frost tossing two of them.
- The Beacon bullpen did not issue any walks in four innings.
- Valpo was no-hit for the second straight Saturday. The Beacons have been involved in the last three no-hitters by Missouri Valley Conference pitchers as prior to Belmont's no-hitter last weekend there had not been a no-hitter by any MVC hurler since Valpo's Colin Fields on March 13, 2021 vs. Middle Tennessee.
- The Valpo defense committed five more errors, totaling nine on the day and 13 in the three-game series.
Up Next
The Beacons (8-33, 3-17 MVC) will host Western Michigan on Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Emory G. Bauer Field. The game will air on ESPN+ and admission is free.