The Valpo softball team got its 2026 campaign going in a dominant fashion Saturday at the DePaul Dome Tournament in Rosemont, Ill., easily handling Detroit Mercy in its first game, 11-0, before taking down Green Bay in its second game, 10-4. Sydney McDermott (Stout, Ohio/Portsmouth West) was just one base hit away from a perfect game in the opener, while Madison Vrastil (Oak Forest, Ill./Andrew) set a program single-game record with four stolen bases against the Phoenix.
 
How It Happened – Detroit Mercy

• Playing as the visitors, Valpo took the lead in the top of the first on an RBI single from Kaia Garnica (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) which plated Grace Hollopeter (Lake Village, Ind./North Newton [Purdue Fort Wayne]).
• The Beacons then exploded for nine runs in the second inning — exploded being a relative turn, as it was death by a thousand cuts for the Titans. Valpo used five singles, five walks and a hit batter to plate those nine runs, and when Vrastil brought home Kim Rodas (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon) and Kayden Krug (Milford, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) with a single, it enjoyed a 10-0 lead.
• Valpo capped the scoring in the top of the fourth on a pinch-hit RBI single from Cadan Brinkman (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community [Campbell/Wofford]), scoring Marissa Jackson (Willis, Mich./Huron).
• After retiring the first nine batters in a row she faced, McDermott gave up her only base runner in the run-rule win to lead off the bottom of the fourth — a single on a soft looping liner that tipped off the edge of the leaping shortstop's glove.

 
How It Happened – Green Bay

• Again batting as the visitors, Valpo's first five batters of the game reached to give it a quick 3-0 lead. Vrastil came home on a wild pitch, while Azalya Lopez (Corona, Calif./Eleanor Roosevelt [MSU Moorhead]) and Brinkman had RBI singles as well.
• In contrast to the first game, it was a pair of extra-base hits which resulted in a big second inning. Hollopeter delivered a two-run double after the first two batters of the inning reached, while Krug connected on a three-run double with the bases loaded and two outs later in the frame.
• Hollopeter added another RBI and Lopez connected on a run-scoring ground-rule double in the top of the third to push the lead to 10-0.
• The first marks against the Beacons came in the bottom of the third, as Green Bay scored three runs — two of which were unearned — to make it a 10-3 game.
• Valpo got runners into scoring position in each of the last four innings, but was unable to add to its lead. The Phoenix scored another run in the fifth to cap the scoring.

 
Inside the Games

• Valpo won its season opener for the first time since 2020 and started 2-0 for the first time since 2017, when it won its first five games of the season.
• The last time Valpo won two games on its opening day was 2002.
• Valpo last scored double-digit runs in consecutive games in 2020, when it plated 11 against Bethune-Cookman Feb. 29 and turned around to score 12 versus Stetson March 1.
• The Beacons' nine-run second inning against Detroit Mercy was the program's largest single-inning output since scoring 12 in the third inning versus Seton Hall Feb. 8, 2014.
• Vrastil swiped one base in the first inning, one in the second inning and two in the third inning against Green Bay to establish the new program single-game record at four stolen bases. The previous mark of three steals had been accomplished 14 times, most recently by Jaina Westphal in 2022.
• Led by Vrastil's command of the basepaths, the Beacons totaled seven steals against the Phoenix — tied for fourth-most in a game in program history.
• The stolen bases were just part of a big overall day for Vrastil, who went 2-for-3 with two RBIs against UDM and followed with three hits and three runs versus Green Bay.
• McDermott registered her second career shutout in the win over the Titans, surrendering just that one hit while striking out nine in her 11^th career complete game.
• There were big performances at the plate up and down the lineup as the Beacons scored 21 runs on Saturday. After finishing last year third in program history in a season in walks, Mack Gallagher (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way West [MSU Moorhead]) drew five walks over Saturday's two games, including three against UDM — tied for third-most in a game in program history. The senior reached four times versus Green Bay, going 2-for-3 in addition to drawing two more free passes.
• Jackson reached in all three of her plate appearances versus the Titans, going 2-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored, and followed with a 2-for-3 effort against Green Bay.
• Garnica reached in all three of her plate appearances against Detroit Mercy as well, driving in two runs as she went 1-for-1 with a walk and a hit batter — one season after establishing the program single-season record for HBP.
• Making her Valpo debut, Hollopeter scored two runs in the opener and reached three times — a hit and two walks — against Green Bay with two runs scored and three RBIs.
• Krug picked up two hits and three RBIs in the victory over the Phoenix.
• Playing collegiately for the first time Saturday, Addie Young (Delaware, Ohio/Olentangy Berlin) went 2-for-3 in the win over Green Bay. In addition to Hollopeter and Young, Brinkman made her Valpo debut, while Lillian Martinez (Hemlock, Mich./Hemlock) made her collegiate debut.
• Lopez earned the win in the circle against Green Bay, tossing five innings and giving up just two earned runs while striking out seven, while also going 3-for-4 with a walk and two RBIs at the plate.
• After not pitching last season after March 23 due to injury, Caitlyn Quickle (Leesburg, Ohio/Fairfield Local) returned to action Saturday with two perfect innings to close out the win over the Phoenix.
• Valpo registered nine walks in both of Saturday's wins. The Beacons tallied eight hits in the victory over UDM before doubling that total with 16 base knocks versus Green Bay — tied for seventh-most in a single game in program history.

 
Next Up
Valpo (2-0) closes its time at the DePaul Dome Tournament with two games on Sunday, facing Green Bay again at 9 a.m. before taking on Oakland at 11:30 a.m. Live stats will be available via ValpoAthletics.com, and the team's Facebook page will have a live video stream.