The Valpo softball team took a brief step away from MVC play Tuesday afternoon with a nonconference twinbill at Northern Kentucky, but was unable to take down the hosts, as the Norse picked up 6-0 and 3-2 wins.
How It Happened – Game One
- Valpo was limited to just one hit — a sixth-inning single from Azalya Lopez (Corona, Calif./Eleanor Roosevelt [MSU Moorhead]) — and got just one runner into scoring position over its seven trips to the plate.
- NKU scored the only runs it would need with a pair in the bottom of the first and added four more in the sixth to cap the scoring.
How It Happened – Game Two
- In a replica of the first game, the Norse scored two runs in the first to jump in front immediately.
- The Beacons had opportunities in the middle of the game to crack their side of the scoreboard, putting two on base with two outs in the third. Valpo then had a golden chance in the fourth, as Cadan Brinkman (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community [Campbell/Wofford]) and Grace Hollopeter (Lake Village, Ind./North Newton [Purdue Fort Wayne]) singled and doubled, respectively, to put two in scoring position with nobody out. An infield single later in the inning from Marissa Jackson (Willis, Mich./Huron) loaded the bases with one out, but the Beacons were unable to push anything across.
- Valpo tied the game in the top of the fifth, as Lillian Martinez (Hemlock, Mich./Hemlock) reached with a one-out infield single and Mack Gallagher (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East [MSU Moorhead]) followed by driving a 2-2 pitch over the left-field wall to make it a 2-2 game.
- Lana Tellez (Chino Hills, Calif./Chino Hills) singled to lead off the sixth and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice by Jackson, but was left stranded on second.
- The Norse scored the decisive run in the bottom of the sixth, as a leadoff single eventually turned into the winning tally. Valpo went down in order in the seventh.
Inside the Games
- Gallagher's homer was her team-best third of the season.
- Combined with a walk she drew in the opener, Gallagher extended her on-base streak to 21 straight games to open the season — tied for the seventh-longest such streak by a Valpo player in the last two decades.
- Martinez and Lyna Vasquez (Moreno Valley, Calif./Valley View) made their respective first starts of the season — for Martinez, her first collegiate start — in the nightcap.
- Despite entering the day with just five plate appearances this season, Martinez took advantage of her start to reach base twice thanks to a single and a walk.
- Lopez took a tough-luck loss in the circle in the nightcap to fall to 1-3 on the year. Entering in relief in the first inning, she threw a season-high 5.1 innings and struck out a season-best eight batters, while allowing just three hits and one run.
- Sydney McDermott (Stout, Ohio/Portsmouth West) took the loss in the opener, falling to 7-4 on the season.
Next Up
Valpo (9-12, 0-2 MVC) continues conference play this weekend at Murray State. The three-game series is slated to open with a doubleheader Friday beginning at 1 p.m.