The Valpo softball team combined to put up 13 runs on 23 hits over its first two games at the UNLV Rebel Classic from Las Vegas Thursday evening, but large early deficits proved too much for the Beacons to overcome, as they fell 9-7 to Utah Valley and 11-6 to the host Rebels.
 
How It Happened – Utah Valley

• A two-out grand slam capped a six-run first inning for the Wolverines, who added another run in the second.
• Valpo started to cut into the deficit in the third, as Kaia Garnica (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) took advantage of an at-bat with the bases loaded and two outs and delivered a two-run single.
• Utah Valley plated one in its half of the third to make it an 8-2 game.
• Garnica had another run-scoring hit in the fifth with an RBI single, and later in the frame, Jenna Flessner (Washington, Ill./Washington) drew a bases-loaded walk to draw within 8-4.
• The Wolverines scored one in the bottom of the sixth before the Beacons attempted a seventh-inning rally. Ava Goodman (San Diego, Calif./West Hills) went yard with a runner on base to pull to within 9-6. Later in the inning, Sophia Leitzen (Orfordville, Wis./Brodhead) connected on an RBI double with two outs to bring the potential tying run to the plate before a groundout ended the contest.

 
How It Happened – UNLV

• Batting as the visitors for the second straight game, Valpo took advantage to jump out to a quick lead. Madison Vrastil (Oak Forest, Ill./Andrew) stole home on the back end of a double steal and Cadan Brinkman (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community [Campbell/Wofford]) picked up a run-scoring single to give the Beacons two in the top of the first
• Much like the first game of the day, however, a multi-run homer capped a big crooked number for the home team in the bottom of the first. This time, it was a three-run round-tripper to put UNLV on top, 5-2. The Rebels then added three more runs in their next time at bat.
• Valpo sliced the deficit in half in the top of the fourth, moving to within 8-5. Mack Gallagher (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East [MSU Moorhead]) registered an RBI single and Kim Rodas (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon) brought home two with a single of her own.
• UNLV scored three in the bottom of the fifth to pull back out to a six-run lead. Azalya Lopez (Corona, Calif./Eleanor Roosevelt [MSU Moorhead]) posted a pinch-hit RBI double in the sixth, but that was all the closer the Beacons would get.

 
Inside the Games

• Valpo tallied seven walks in the Utah Valley game, its sixth game of the season with at least seven free passes.
• The Beacons then racked up 14 hits versus UNLV, their second-highest total of the year and the fourth time they've been in double figures in the category.
• Runners left on base hurt Valpo on Thursday, as it stranded eight in the two-run loss to UVU and then left 13 on against UNLV.
• Garnica and Gallagher both reached base in both games Thursday, extending their respective on-base streaks to nine straight games to open the season.
• The Beacons utilized 17 players in the batting order in the Utah Valley game, and the reserves took full advantage of their opportunities in that contest, as six of seven reached base at least once.
• Highlights from the bench included Goodman hitting a two-run homer in her first collegiate plate appearance, Flessner going 1-for-1 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI in her first collegiate action and Cici Wilson (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles East) drawing a walk and scoring two runs.
• Garnica reached in all three of her plate appearances versus the Wolverines, going 2-for-2 with a walk and three RBIs.
• Lopez started and took the loss in the circle against UVU, falling to 1-2 as she tossed the first four innings.
• The top three in the Valpo order all had multi-hit games in the nightcap. Vrastil picked up two hits and scored two runs against the Rebels, and stole a base apiece in each of Thursday's two games — the sophomore is now 8-for-8 on the season on the basepaths and 25-for-25 for her career.
• Grace Hollopeter (Lake Village, Ind./North Newton [Purdue Fort Wayne]) tallied a pair of hits and scored a run against UNLV, while Gallagher reached three times, going 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.
• Rodas reached base in five of her six plate appearances over the pair of games, including four times against the Rebels, going 2-for-2 with two walks, two RBIs and a run scored.
• Brinkman also had a pair of hits versus UNLV and drove in one.
• Sydney McDermott (Stout, Ohio/Portsmouth West) started and took the loss in the circle, falling to 3-2 as she lasted just 1.1 innings. Goodman closed the night with 1.2 innings of shutout relief.

 
Next Up
Valpo (4-5) turns right around and plays twice more on Friday, facing Merrimack at 2 p.m. CT and Idaho State at 8 p.m. CT. Live video for both games will be available through the UNLV YouTube channel.