The Valpo softball team suffered its first defeats of the 2026 season Friday at the Skyhawk Invitational in Martin, Tenn., dropping a back-and-forth opener against host UT Martin, 7-4, before coming up just shy against Saint Louis with the potential tying run in scoring position in the seventh inning, 3-2. Three Beacons connected on home runs Friday, including the first collegiate home run from senior Kaia Garnica (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central).
 
How It Happened – UT Martin

• After leaving four runners on base over the first three innings, Valpo found the game's first breakthrough in the top of the fourth inning, as Lana Tellez (Chino Hills, Calif./Chino Hills) and Madison Vrastil (Oak Forest, Ill./Andrew) connected on back-to-back two-out RBI singles to give the Beacons a 2-0 lead.
• The Skyhawks answered immediately with a three-run bottom of the fourth to take a one-run lead.
• That lead was erased in the Beacons' next turn at the plate, as Garnica delivered a solo shot to left with two outs to make it a 3-3 game in the middle of the fifth.
• UT Martin went ahead for good in the bottom of the fifth with its second consecutive three-run frame.
• Valpo cut its deficit to two runs on a two-out run-scoring double from Grace Hollopeter (Lake Village, Ind./North Newton [Purdue Fort Wayne]) in the sixth, but again the Skyhawks responded right away.to cap the scoring. The Beacons put their first two batters on base in the top of the seventh to get the potential tying run to the plate before UT Martin closed things out.

 
How It Happened – Saint Louis

• The Billikens scored all three of their runs in the first two innings, getting a two-run homer in the opening frame and a two-out RBI double in the second.
• After being held hitless for the first 3 1/3 innings against SLU, Valpo got its first hit and first run all wrapped up in one, as Mack Gallagher (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East [MSU Moorhead]) went deep to left to make it a 3-1 game.
• The Beacons got runners into scoring position in each of the next two innings, but were unable to cut any further into the lead in either frame.
• In its final time at the plate, Valpo's deficit was immediately halved, as Cadan Brinkman (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community [Campbell/Wofford]) sent a leadoff homer to left to bring the Beacons within 3-2.
• Marissa Jackson (Willis, Mich./Huron) followed with an infield single, and a sacrifice bunt moved her into scoring position with one out and the top of the order coming to the plate. But the Billikens retired the final two hitters in order to close out their win.

 
Inside the Games

• Jackson picked up a hit in each of Friday's games, extending her hitting streak to start the season to six straight games.
• Garnica has reached base at least once in all six of Valpo's games. The senior's first career homer against UT Martin was part of a 3-for-4 effort, the first three-hit game of her career.
• Vrastil) recorded her third multi-hit game of the season with a two-hit effort against UT Martin.
• Valpo finished with 10 hits as a team against the hosts, its third game this season with at least 10 base knocks.
• Azalya Lopez (Corona, Calif./Eleanor Roosevelt [MSU Moorhead]) started in the circle and tossed the first four innings versus UT Martin. Ava Goodman (San Diego, Calif./West Hills) took the loss in relief, falling to 0-1 on the year, while Kayla Purdy (Matthews, N.C./Porter Ridge) made her collegiate debut in the sixth inning, recording a pair of strikeouts in a scoreless frame.
• Brinkman came off the bench against the Billikens and went 2-for-2 with a home run. It was her first home run as a Beacon and the fourth of her collegiate career.
• Gallagher's long ball versus SLU was her seventh at Valpo and the 24^th of her collegiate career.
• Sydney McDermott (Stout, Ohio/Portsmouth West) took the complete-game loss against SLU, falling to 3-1 despite surrendering just five hits and striking out nine.

 
Next Up
Valpo (4-2) closes out its weather-shortened time at the Skyhawk Invitational with a rematch against Saint Louis Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m.