Facing a deficit for the first time on opening weekend of the 2026 season, the Valpo softball team overcame an early four-run hole against Oakland and eventually won 6-5 on a walk-off single from Mack Gallagher (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East [MSU Moorhead]) to complete a perfect 4-0 performance at the DePaul Dome Tournament. In their first game Sunday, the Beacons blanked Green Bay, 6-0, with Sydney McDermott (Stout, Ohio/Portsmouth West) and Ava Goodman (San Diego, Calif./West Hills) combining for the shutout in the circle.
 
How It Happened – Green Bay

• Valpo didn't lack for chances in the opening innings, as the Beacons put five runners on base in the first four innings — four of which advanced into scoring position — without cracking the scoreboard.
• On the flip side, McDermott was holding her own in the circle, pitching around one-out doubles in the second and fourth innings to keep Green Bay off the board.
• The breakthrough came for the Beacons in the bottom of the fifth, and even more so than it did in Saturday's big inning against Detroit Mercy, it was due to an astute eye at the plate. Valpo pushed six runs across the plate against the Phoenix in the fifth despite tallying just two singles, as six batters drew walks — all but one of them coming on full-count pitches. When Sophia Leitzen (Orfordville, Wis./Brodhead) delivered a sacrifice fly to plate Kayden Krug (Milford, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame), the Beacons enjoyed a 6-0 lead.
• Goodman closed things out in the circle for Valpo, tossing scoreless sixth and seventh innings to finish off the win.

 
How It Happened – Oakland

• After not trailing in each of its first three games of the season, the Beacons found themselves in an immediate hole against the Golden Grizzlies, who plated four runs in the top of the first inning.
• Valpo had chances to cut into the deficit in each of the first three frames, but stranded six runners on base over the three innings without scoring.
• The Beacons were finally able to cut into the lead in the bottom of the fourth, plating three runs to make it a one-run game. Lana Tellez (Chino Hills, Calif./Chino Hills) scored on an Oakland error after reaching on a pinch-hit double to lead off the frame, Leitzen came home on a wild pitch and Azalya Lopez (Corona, Calif./Eleanor Roosevelt [MSU Moorhead]) plated Madison Vrastil (Oak Forest, Ill./Andrew) with an RBI single to make it a 4-3 game.
• One frame later, it was Valpo emerging with the lead, as Gallagher drew a bases-loaded walk and Lopez followed with her second run-scoring base hit in as many innings to put the Beacons on top, 5-4.
• The Golden Grizzlies plated the tying run in the top of the seventh, but that just set up the walk-off victory for Valpo. Back-to-back one-out singles from Leitzen and Vrastil put the potential winning run in scoring position, and two batters later, Gallagher drilled a shot back up the middle to score Leitzen and set off the celebration to cap the weekend.

 
Inside the Games

• Valpo is 4-0 through four games for the fifth time in program history, and just the second time against all D-I opponents. The 2017 squad started 5-0 for the best start by a Valpo team, while the 1986, 2000 and 2002 teams all faced at least two non D-I opponents en route to a 4-0 start.
• The Beacons' walk-off win against the Golden Grizzlies was their first since winning in their final at-bat against Evansville March 29, 2025. It was Valpo's first walk-off victory in nonconference play since a game-ending home run against Cleveland State March 8, 2020.
• Valpo drew nine walks Sunday against Green Bay and then earned 10 free passes in the win over Oakland, the latter tied for fifth in program history in a single game. The Beacons finished with 37 walks over the first four games of the season, drawing at least nine walks in each game — the first time in program history they have drawn nine or more walks in four straight contests.
• Valpo's win over Green Bay was its sixth straight in the series against the Phoenix, dating back to when the two programs shared Horizon League membership in 2017.
• No Beacon had multiple hits in the morning win over Green Bay, as Valpo needed just six hits to go with its nine walks to earn the victory.
• Grace Hollopeter (Lake Village, Ind./North Newton [Purdue Fort Wayne]) reached in all four of her plate appearances against the Phoenix, going 1-for-1 with a run scored and three walks. The three free passes ties for third-most in a single game in program history.
• Kim Rodas (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon) reached in all three of her plate appearances versus Green Bay as well, as she went 1-for-1 with a double, an RBI and two walks.
• McDermott earned her second win of the season against the Phoenix, tossing five innings of three-hit shutout ball and striking out seven without a single walk. Goodman closed out the victory in her Valpo debut with two shutout innings.
• The win over the nightcap was highlighted by Vrastil reaching base four times, going 1-for-2 with two runs scored and three walks — matching Hollopeter from earlier Sunday and Gallagher from Saturday for the third-most walks in a game in program history.
• After starting the game on the bench, Tellez went 2-for-2 with a run scored, a double and a walk in the win over the Golden Grizzlies — the junior entered the game against Oakland having just four hits and one walk on her collegiate ledger.
• Gallagher's walk-off single capped a game where she went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a walk. Lopez went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Leitzen scored three runs to set a career best for runs scored.
• Caitlyn Quickle (Leesburg, Ohio/Fairfield Local) was instrumental to Valpo's win over the Golden Grizzlies, as she entered with four runs already on the board in the first and runners on second and third, got out of the inning and proceeded to pitch 4.2 innings of shutout softball, surrendering just three hits and no walks.
• McDermott improved to 3-0 this season in the circle as she tossed the final two innings.

 
Next Up
Valpo (4-0) looks to continue its unbeaten start to the season next weekend at UT Martin's Skyhawk Invitational. The Beacons will play five games over three days, starting with matchups versus Saint Louis and Mississippi Valley State Friday, Feb. 13.