The Valpo softball team closed out its week-long spring break trip with an outpouring at the plate in a doubleheader sweep at IU Indy in Indianapolis Sunday afternoon. The Beacons won a slugfest in very windy conditions in the opener, 11-7, before Azalya Lopez (Corona, Calif./Eleanor Roosevelt [MSU Moorhead]) put together an impressive performance in the circle in the nightcap, keeping the Jaguars off the board in an 8-0 run-rule win. Madison Vrastil (Oak Forest, Ill./Andrew) scored four runs in the opener, matching the program record for runs scored in a game for the second time this weekend.
 
How It Happened – Game One

• After Valpo's first two batters of the game were retired, the next five in a row all reached as the Beacons plated three runs in the top of the first — Mack Gallagher (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East [MSU Moorhead]) had an RBI single and Kaia Garnica (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) delivered a two-run single.
• IU Indy put a run on the board in its first at-bat with a solo homer, but Valpo responded in the second with a two-run blast from Kim Rodas (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon) to take a 5-1 lead.
• The Jaguars connected on another solo homer in their half of the second and then plated four in the third, including a three-run homer, to pull ahead, 6-5.
• Vrastil single-handedly tied the game in the top of the fourth, coming up with a one-out double before stealing third and scoring on an error by the IU Indy catcher. The Beacons loaded the bases with two outs on a single and two walks later in the inning in an effort to take the lead before a flyout kept the score tied at 6-6.
• The tie score lasted one pitch into the bottom of the fourth, as the Jaguars' leadoff hitter went deep to regain the lead, 7-6.
• After the first scoreless frame both ways in the fifth inning, Valpo jumped back in front in the sixth. The Beacons tied the game in unlikely fashion, as Vrastil connected on a homer, and then took the lead in more normal fashion, as Gallagher delivered a two-run homer to make it 9-7 Beacons.
• Valpo added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh thanks to a two-run double by Kayden Krug (Milford, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame).

 
How It Happened – Game Two

• The top of the first saw Valpo score for the second time in its first turn at bat on Sunday, with Garnica connecting on a two-out RBI single.
• This time, however, the lead would stand throughout the entire game. Gallagher pushed it to a four-run edge with a three-run homer in the top of the third.
• The Beacons plated four in the top of the fifth to push the game into run-rule territory. Lopez connected on an RBI double as the third batter of the inning as Valpo's first five batters of the frame reached base.
• Later, Sophia Leitzen (Orfordville, Wis./Brodhead) registered an RBI single and Vrastil with a run-scoring grounder to push the lead to 7-0. With Krug on first and Leitzen on third with two out, Krug got herself into a rundown long enough to allow Leitzen to scamper home with the all-important eighth run in regards to the run rule.
• The bottom of the fifth brought a bit of drama however, as after Lopez struck out the first two batters of the inning, the next two walked to bring the potential game-extending runner into scoring position. The Jaguars' next batter recorded a single to left, but Krug was able to register an outfield assist to end the game, firing home to nab the IU Indy runner attempting to score.

 
Inside the Games

• Valpo's 11 runs scored in the opener tied a season high and was the team's fourth double-figure run output of the season.
• The Beacons connected on three home runs in the opener, the program's most in a single game since going deep three times in the nightcap at Indiana State March 17, 2018.
• Meanwhile, the nightcap brought the third shutout by the Beacons this season and their second run-rule win.
• Given the windy conditions Sunday, it was an impressive shutout in the circle from Lopez, who gave up just four hits and struck out five in the blanking of the Jaguars.
• Lopez also earned the win in the opener with four innings of relief work, allowing just one hit and one run as she picked up two wins in one day for the second time in the Valpo uniform, improving to 4-3 on the season.
• For the second time in three days, Vrastil tied the program record for runs in a single game as she crossed the plate four times in the opener. She is just the third player in program history to score four runs in a game twice, joining Sara Strickland and Sam Stewart.
• Vrastil also racked up a career-best four hits in the opener, including two doubles and her first collegiate home run. The four hits are tied for second-most in a single game in program history. Her nine total bases are tied for third in a single game in program history as well.
• Not to mention, the sophomore stole two bases in the opener to give her 19 on the season — ninth-most in a single season in program history — and 36 for her career — seventh in program history.
• Vrastil added a double in the nightcap as well for her fourth extra-base hit of the day.
• Gallagher became the first Valpo player to connect for a homer in two games in the same day since Lauren Kehlenbrink at Bradley April 3, 2022, as she hit a two-run homer in the opener and a three-run homer in the nightcap.
• Gallagher's round-tripper in the opener was the highlight of a performance which saw her reach base four times, going 2-for-2 with a walk, a hit by pitch, two runs scored and three RBIs.
• Her three-run homer in the nightcap not only gave her four three-RBI games this season, it extended her season-opening on-base streak to 26 straight games — second-longest by a Valpo player in the last two decades.
• Rodas finished with three hits, two runs scored and two RBIs in the opener and picked up her third career homer run. She followed by drawing three walks in the nightcap, tied for third-most in a game in program history.
• Krug had her fifth multi-hit game of the season in the opener, tallying two hits and driving in a pair of runs before scoring two runs in the nightcap.
• Garnica had a two-RBI game in the opener and followed with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate in the nightcap, her second three-hit game of the year.
• Marissa Jackson (Willis, Mich./Huron) tallied her seventh multi-hit game this season with a two-hit effort in the nightcap.

 
Next Up
Valpo (12-14) is slated to host its home opener against DePaul Wednesday afternoon. Game updates will be delivered via Valpo Athletics social media.