Next Up in Valpo Baseball: After starting the season with 20 consecutive road games, the Valparaiso University baseball team will finally open the home portion of the season this weekend at Emory G. Bauer Field. Indiana State will be in town for a three-game, Missouri Valley Conference series. Due to projected frigid temperatures on Friday, this has been shifted to a Saturday/Sunday/Monday series. Valpo will play a pro ball schedule over the course of the next week with seven games in eight days.
 
Last Time Out: The Beacons have incurred setbacks decided by two run or fewer in each of their last three games, most recently a 3-2 loss at Big Ten foe Purdue on Tuesday. Valpo tied the game with two runs in the top of the seventh, but Purdue came back with a two-out run in the bottom of that inning that stood as the difference. Brayden Pleau went 4-for-4 to pace the team. That came after a 13-12 loss in Sunday's series finale against Murray State, as the Beacons dropped all three over the first weekend of league play against the preseason Missouri Valley Conference favorite and a team that went to the College World Series a year ago.
 
Following the Beacons: One game in this series is scheduled to air on ESPN+. Saturday's game will not be streamed, but either Sunday or Monday will be streamed. Check back to ValpoAthletics.com closer to gameday for finalized streaming plans. For links to video and stats, visit ValpoAthletics.com. For in-game updates, follow @ValpoBaseball on X.
 
Head Coach Brian Schmack: Brian Schmack (218-385) is in his 13th season in charge of the program. He ranks third in program history in seasons coached and games coached as he coached his 500^th game on March 17, 2024 at Campbell. On April 19, 2024 vs. Missouri State, he became the third head coach in program history to secure his 200^th win. Schmack, a member of the 2003 Detroit Tigers, served as pitching coach/associate head coach at Valpo for seven seasons prior to his promotion.
 
Series Notes: Valpo is 31-62-1 all-time against Indiana State in a series that began in 1947. Last season, Valpo experienced a major breakthrough, beating the Sycamores for the first time since joining the Missouri Valley Conference by winning 8-3 in the series opener in Terre Haute. Valpo had lost 25 straight head-to-head matchups since last beating the Sycamores 11-2 on March 31, 2007 prior to that win. Since joining the Missouri Valley Conference prior to the 2018 season, Valpo was 0-20 against Indiana State and is now 1-22 against the Sycamores, who won the final two games of the series last year 2-1 and 10-5. Entering this weekend, Valpo is 0-9 at home against Indiana State since joining the MVC and has lost 12 straight at home against the Sycamores dating back to 1972.
 
Home at Last

• After 20 straight games on the road, Valpo will open the home portion of the season this weekend against Indiana State.
• The March 28 home opener is a full month later than last year's home opener, a Feb. 28 doubleheader vs. Niagara that was played at UIC's Curtis Granderson Stadium.
• However, this will be earlier than Valpo's first Emory G. Bauer Field game last season, which came on April 1 vs. Milwaukee.
• See below for a year-by-year look at the date of Valpo's first home game and how many games were played prior to a home contest during the Missouri Valley Conference Era.

Year    Date    Games
2026    3/28     20
2025    2/28     6
2024    3/19     18
2023    3/28     17
2022    3/25     16
2021    4/23     25
2020    N/A     16
2019    3/23     16
2018    3/26     19
 
Notes Wrapping Up March 24 – Purdue 3, Valpo 2

• Brayden Pleau went 4-for-4, surpassing his previous season high of three hits on Feb. 28 at Alabama State. He accounted for four of the team's seven hits.
• The last nine matchups between the Beacons and Boilermakers dating back to 2012 have all been decided by four runs or fewer. The last 10 games between the two teams dating back to 2010 have all been decided by five runs or fewer.
• Valpo's last three games have all been decided by two runs or fewer. The Beacons fell to 1-5 in one-run games this season and 2-14 in one-run games in 2025 and 2026 combined.
• Valpo pitching displayed good control in the midweek contest, permitting just two walks. None of the first five Beacons who toed the rubber on Tuesday issued a base on balls.
• Purdue held a 10-7 edge in the hit column. Purdue stranded 11, while Valpo left 10 on base.

In the Other Dugout – Indiana State

• Took two of three at home against Bradley over the first weekend of conference play, rallying from a 10-8 setback in the opener to take the series with 8-3 and 18-10 victories.
• Coming off a midweek win at Big Ten foe Indiana, prevailing 5-4 on Tuesday in Bloomington.
• Under the direction of head coach Tracy Archuleta, who is in his second season leading the Sycamores after 18 at Southern Indiana.
• Led offensively by Carter Beck, who is hitting .327.

Beacons Among League, National Leaders

• Valpo has eight triples on the season, 24^th nationally and first in the MVC.
• The team's 0.40 triples per game lead the league and rank 11^th nationally.
• Valpo also ranks second in the league in doubles per game at 2.10.
• Connor Lockwood ranks ninth in the country and leads the MVC in strikeout-to-walk ratio at 12.50.
• Lockwood ranks second in the country in walks allowed per nine innings at 0.44.

Notes Wrapping Up Murray State (March 20-22): L 9-4, L 3-1, L 13-12

• Javin Gauthier's home run in Friday's season opener was his third of the season, moving him into sole possession of the team lead. He added his team-leading fourth of the season on Sunday.
• Michael Kuska went 3-for-3 plus a walk on Friday while also notching a double for one of the team's two extra-base knocks. That was his second game with at least three hits this season and first with exactly three, one shy of his career high set on Feb. 22 at Presbyterian. His double was his third of the season and first since Feb. 14 at Gardner-Webb.
• Cole Lockwood and Gauthier had two hits apiece on Friday, joining Kuska with multiple hits.
• Both teams stranded 10 men on base in Friday's series opener.
• The Beacons were outhit 15-10 on Friday, their second straight double-figure hit total and seventh of the season.
• In Saturday's middle game, Connor Lockwood tossed his second complete game of the season and the fifth of his career. He needed just 87 pitches to cover all eight defensive innings.
• Lockwood walked just one while allowing three runs on seven hits in the eight innings. The walk was just the second he has issued all season and first since Feb. 13 vs. Gardner-Webb.
• Freshman Cal Schembra and sophomore Michael Kuska led the team with two hits apiece on Saturday as the Beacons were outhit by a narrow 7-6 count.
• Saturday's game was Valpo's fourth loss of the season by two runs or fewer.
• Schembra's home run on Sunday was his third of the season and first since Feb. 27 at Alabama State.
• Cooper's home run on Sunday was his third of the season, all in a five-game span.
• The Beacons' three home runs on Sunday marked a season high.
• Valpo tied a season high with 10 extra-base hits on Sunday (previously Feb. 22 at Presbyterian). Valpo's six doubles also tied the PC game for a season high.
• Valpo lashed out 14 hits in the series finale, tied for the team's second-highest total of the season, joining March 15 at SIUE and behind only 20 on Feb. 22 at Presbyterian. The Beacons and Racers were even in the hit column on Sunday with 14 knocks apiece.
• The Beacons had 31 total bases in Sunday's game, second-highest of the season behind 35 at PC.
• The 12 runs in the series finale marked Valpo's third highest total of the season and fifth time in double figures.
• Case Sullivan's triple on Sunday was his second of the season, making him the third Beacon with multiple this season. The team has eight triples on the year.
• Sullivan went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored with two doubles and a triple on Sunday. He enjoyed his first three-hit game of the season.
• Eli Riley went 3-for-4 with two runs scored while doubling twice on Sunday. He had his second two-double game and second three-hit game of the season.
• Guazzo was a pitching bright spot on a high-scoring Sunday, not allowing a run over 1 1/3 innings of relief. He has worked scoreless ball in five of his last six outings.
• Valpo fell to 1-4 in one-run games this season and a combined 2-13 in one-run games in 2025 and 2026.
• Sunday was the first time Valpo played a game decided by the exact score of 13-12 since May 10, 2003, a loss at Southern Utah.
• Valpo struck first in two of the three games in the series and has scored first in 14 of the team's 19 games this season.

 
RPI Report: At 145, Valpo has the second-best RPI in the Missouri Valley Conference, behind only Illinois State (101). 
 
Top 100: For the third time this season, Valpo had a hitter in D1Baseball's Top 100 Hitters of the Week, as Thomas Cooper checked in at No. 53 for Week 5 after hitting .417 including two home runs and five RBIs in the three-game series at OVC preseason favorite SIUE.
 
Lockwood Cracks All-Time Top 10

• Valpo starting pitcher Connor Lockwood recently cracked the program's all-time top 10 in strikeouts. In his March 21 start at Murray State, he increased his career strikeout total to 217, entering the program's all-time top 10.  
• Lockwood is tied with Richard Beumer (1959-1962) for 10^th in program history. He could finish his next start as high as ninth, which is currently held by Tom Starck (2001-2004, 222).
• Lockwood became the first Valpo pitcher to crack the top 10 since fellow Libertyville, Ill. native Colin Fields, who finished his 2019-2022 career with 260 strikeouts, fifth all-time.
• In the March 21 game at Murray State, Lockwood also cracked the program's all-time top 10 for innings pitched. He has logged 276 2/3 innings in his career, surpassing Tim Juran (1969-1972, 274 2/3) for 10^th.
• Lockwood became the first Valpo pitcher to crack the all-time top 10 in innings pitched since Jon Tieman (2017-2021).
• Lockwood walked one batter in his season debut on Feb. 13 at Gardner-Webb, and after that did not issue another walk until March 21 at Murray State, when he yielded his second base on balls of the season.

Rank   Player                         Years              Strikeouts
1          Tim Juran                    1969-1972       371
2          Jon Robisch                1961-1964       294
3          Dalton Lundeen          2013-2016       275
4          Jon Gulbransen           2008-2011       264
5          Colin Fields                2019-2022       260
6          Shawn Barker             1987-1990       253
7          Bryce Shafer               2008-2010       250
8          Jon Tieman                 2017-2021       244
9          Tom Starck                 2001-2004       222
10        Richard Beumer          1959-1962       217
            Connor Lockwood      2022-pres.       217
Rank   Player                         Years              Innings
1          Dalton Lundeen          2013-2016       347.1
2          Jon Gulbransen           2008-2011       327.1
3          Harvey Yergin             2004-2007       314.2
4          Tyler Deetjen              2009-2012       311.1
5          Tim Holmes                1984-1987       291.2
6          John Grippi                 1984-1988       286.0
7          Jon Tieman                 2017-2021       283.1
8          Shawn Barker             1987-1990       281.2
9          Mario Losi                  2014-2017       281.1
10        Connor Lockwood      2022-pres.       276.2
 
Immaculate

• Connor Lockwood completed one of baseball's rarest feats on Feb. 28 at Alabama State.
• The redshirt senior right-hander threw an immaculate second inning, striking out the side on just nine pitches.
• Fellow Libertyville, Ill. native Colin Fields threw Valpo's previous immaculate inning, doing so as part of his no-hitter on March 13, 2021 at Middle Tennessee.
• Lockwood reached the 200-strikeout milestone for his collegiate career in the game against Alabama State as well.
• Lockwood's 11 strikeouts were the most by a Beacon since he had a career-high 11 on Feb. 22 at Memphis.
• This marked Valpo's first shutout since Bryce Konitzer on April 28, 2024 in a seven-inning game. It was Valpo's first nine-inning shutout since Ellis Foreman on April 23, 2017.
• This was Valpo's first complete game since Harry Deliyannis on April 26, 2025 at Belmont.
• In addition to yielding only three hits and striking out 11 in his shutout, Lockwood did not issue any walks.

Locking In Recognition

• For his Feb. 28 shutout at Alabama State, Connor Lockwood received significant recognition.
• The redshirt senior right-hander posted a "game score" of 92 according to D1Baseball.com, the second best in the nation that day. In addition, he was No. 2 on D1Baseball's Top 100 Pitchers for Week 3.
• Lockwood was named the Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week, making it the third straight week a Valpo player received a league honor. Cal Schembra (Freshman of the Week, Week 1) and Javin Gauthier (Player of the Week, Week 2) preceded Lockwood's Week-3 accolade.
• This marked the fourth time that Lockwood has been named MVC Pitcher of the Week in his career, the most of any Valpo player since joining the league.
• Valpo has captured the award 11 total times since joining The Valley. Lockwood is joined by Colin Fields (twice), Bryce Konitzer, Jacob Rosenkranz, Jake Miller, Bobby Nowak and Easton Rhodehouse.

Javin Shines in the South Carolina Sun

• Redshirt freshman Javin Gauthier posted a slash line of .667/.765/1.083 in three games in South Carolina, earning Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week honors following his big performance.
• Gauthier racked up eight hits including three for extra bases and his first collegiate home run to help Valpo take two of three in South Carolina. He totaled 13 bases, scored six runs and drove in eight while also drawing five walks and posting a perfect fielding percentage on the left side of Valpo's infield, splitting time between third and short.
• The left-handed hitting infielder had multiple hits in all three games over the weekend, and was listed at No. 33 on D1Baseball.com's Top 100 hitters of the week, the second straight week a Beacon earned a place on that list.
• Gauthier became Valpo's first MVC Player of the Week since Jake Skrine on April 17, 2023. He joined Skrine, Sam Shaikin, Kaleb Hannahs and Nolan Tucker as Valpo players who have won MVC Player of the Week awards since the team joined the MVC.

Bringing the Bats

• Valpo posted 21 runs on 20 hits in a high-scoring Feb. 22 win at Presbyterian.
• This marked the second time in a nine-game span dating back to last season that Valpo surpassed 20 runs, as the squad put up 24 on May 16, 2025 vs. Southern Illinois.
• This marked the team's highest run total in a road game since May 8, 2005, a 21-1 victory over Oakland.
• The team's 20 hits against the Blue Hose were its most since May 13, 2016 at Youngstown State (21).

Grand Entrance

• Freshman first baseman Cal Schembra was named the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Week for his opening-weekend performance at Gardner-Webb. He became the first-ever player to earn that award as the league added a Freshman of the Week Award to its arsenal of honors this season.
• Schembra batted .500 with a double, home run, five RBIs and four runs scored. He reached at a .533 clip and slugged .786 over the four games.
• The Valpo rookie also had a diving catch in foul territory and doubled up the runner who was trying to tag and score from third. The impressive play was featured as the No. 2 Play of the Week by D1Baseball.
• Schembra, who had multiple hits in each of the first three games of his collegiate career, was ranked the No. 77 hitter nationally in Week 1 of the season by D1Baseball.

MVC Preseason Watch List

• Rather than preseason all-conference teams, the Missouri Valley Conference released a Preseason Watch List prior to the 2026 campaign.
• Valpo players to watch include redshirt senior right-handed pitcher Spencer Boynton, redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Adam Guazzo, redshirt senior right-handed pitcher Connor Lockwood, redshirt senior catcher Eli Riley and redshirt sophomore infielder Case Sullivan.
• The Valley did not release the full preseason poll this season, but did release the top five teams in the voting. Murray State is the preseason favorite, followed by Southern Illinois and UIC.

The Roster Rundown

• Valpo has 18 newcomers joining forces with 15 returning players for the 2026 season.
• The top six pitchers from last season in terms of earned run average are back for 2026.
• On the flip side, the position player group has received a bit of a makeover. Of the 11 position players who started on a fairly regular basis last season, only three return in 2026 – redshirt junior Thomas Cooper, senior Austin Amburgey and redshirt sophomore Case Sullivan.
• This year's roster features 10 freshmen, six sophomores, five juniors and 12 seniors.
• Illinois (11) and Indiana (eight) are the home states most represented on the Valpo roster. Wisconsin (four), Ohio (two) and Florida (two) also produced multiple members of this year's Beacons. Kentucky, Tennessee, Nebraska, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Michigan round out the 11 states represented on this year's team.
• There are 16 pitchers and 18 position players (including one two-way player counted in both groups) on this year's roster.

Looking Back at 2025

• The 10-40 record and 5-22 MVC mark are deceiving based on the number of close losses. Valpo was 1-9 in one-run games including 1-7 in MVC play in one-run games
• Valpo had two wins over Big Ten Conference opponents, beating Ohio State 10-7 on March 7 and Illinois 13-10 on March 15.
• The March 15 win came against the defending Big Ten regular-season champs and a team that won 35 games and went 18-6 in Big Ten play on its way to an NCAA Regional berth last season.
• The win over Ohio State was the team's first Big Ten win since 2018. The win came against a Buckeyes team that was coming off a 29-win season.
• The team's 8-3 win at Indiana State on March 21 to open Missouri Valley Conference play snapped a 25-game head-to-head losing streak and was the team's first victory over the Sycamores since 2007. Valpo was previously 0-20 vs. Indiana State since joining the MVC prior to the 2018 season.
• The win over Indiana State came against the defending MVC regular-season champs and an Indiana State team that made an NCAA Regional appearance last season.
• The team produced its highest run total in 15 years on May 16, beating Southern Illinois 24-14 in the highest-scoring game in Emory G. Bauer Field history.

2025 Awards & Honors

• All-MVC Honorable Mention – Connor Lockwood
• MVC Scholar-Athlete Second Team – Patrick Ilitch
• College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team – Spencer Warfield & Ryan Kruse
• SportsCenter Top 10 Plays – Connor Giusti at No. 6 on May 17 after a diving catch and glove flip to second for a double play in the ninth inning of a win over Southern Illinois; Aidan Thaxton at No. 3 for an impressive tag on April 6 vs. Illinois State.
• Weekly Awards – Case Sullivan Brooks Wallace National Shortstop of the Week (May 20), Connor Lockwood MVC Pitcher of the Week (March 24)
• Ryan Maka finished his career with 21 home runs, tied for the 10^th most in program history.
• Connor Lockwood led the Missouri Valley Conference in strikeouts (80) and innings pitched (95 2/3).
• Dean's Award (Graduate College) & MVC State Farm Good Neighbor Award – Kade Reinertson
• Male Perseverance Award (ARC Awards) – Connor Lockwood

Pitching Profiles – Probable Starters

• #24 Adam Guazzo, R-So. (Huntley, Ill. / Huntley) – Was sidelined and did not see action during his first season on campus in 2023... Two-time all-conference performer in basketball in addition to earning all-conference on the diamond as a senior in high school... Set his high school's record for rebounds in a single season on the hardwood with 320 in 2021-22... Favorite TV shows are Breaking Bad and Ozarks… Pitched in 15 games and made nine starts in 2024 before making 17 appearances, all in relief, in 2025… Nailed down his first collegiate save with 1 2/3 scoreless inning on Feb. 23 at Memphis… Tossed a shutout frame on March 7, 2025 at Ohio State to earn his second save… Allowed one run on one hit over two frames of relief on March 15, 2025 at Illinois… Entered the March 25, 2025 game at Purdue with the Beacons in a jam in the bottom of the eighth and limited the damage as he was not charged with a run while allowing no hits, striking out two and recording all three outs in the inning… Earned his first collegiate win with three shutout innings of two-hit ball in the 3-2, 10-inning victory over Illinois State on April 6, 2025… Worked two scoreless innings on April 19, 2025 vs. Murray State… Did not allow a hit or a run in his inning of relief on May 3, 2025 in the second game of a doubleheader vs. UIC… Made his first start of the season on Feb. 20, 2026 at Wofford and allowed just one unearned run on one hit over two innings, but took the loss… Started and went two shutout innings on Feb. 27 at Alabama State… Started and went three shutout innings on March 6 at Jax State, stretching his scoreless inning streak to five… Continued his scoreless innings streak on March 13 at SIUE by starting and going two scoreless frames… Stretched his scoreless innings streak to nine before eventually allowing a solo home run on a tough day to pitch on March 15 at SIUE, earning the victory in relief on his birthday by going three innings and permitting just the one run… Started and went two shutout innings on March 20 at Murray State, his fourth straight start in which he worked scoreless ball… Pitched shutout ball for the fifth time in his last six outings with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief in the March 22 series finale at Murray State.
• #11 RHP Connor Lockwood, (R-Sr.), (Libertyville, Ill. / Libertyville) – Named conference co-player of the year as a high school senior in 2021 and received all-state accolades... Interested in a career in elementary education... Favorite food is deep dish pizza... Made his first appearance since April 2, 2023 vs. Murray State on March 1, 2024 at Elon as after that game he underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery. In his return to the rubber, he started and went three innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and one walk while striking out four... Threw a complete game to earn the win while scattering eight hits, striking out nine and walking none on March 30, 2024 vs. Bradley. He became the first Valpo hurler to toss a nine-inning complete game in five years and was named MVC Pitcher of the Week on April 1, 2024, becoming the second Valpo pitcher since the team joined the MVC to become a multi-time winner of that award… Started the 2025 season opener on Feb. 14 and tossed an eight-inning complete game, striking out seven and walking none while taking the tough-luck loss after allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits at Samford… Named the MVC Pitcher of the Week on March 24, 2025 after pitching Valpo to its first win over Indiana State since 2007 on March 21, ending a 25-game head-to-head losing streak. He allowed no earned runs (three total runs) on five hits and one walk while striking out 10 over seven innings against the defending Missouri Valley Conference regular-season champions… Threw his second complete game of the season and the third of his career on April 4, 2025 vs. Illinois State, scattering seven hits while allowing two runs, walking one and striking out six. Valpo fell 2-1 as Lockwood took the tough-luck loss… In 2025, led the MVC in strikeouts (80) and innings pitched (95 2/3), becoming the first Valpo player to lead the league in innings since 2018 and strikeouts since 2022… Had the team's highest innings total since 2019 and highest strikeout total since 2022… Named 2025 All-MVC Honorable Mention… Allowed four runs in six innings and had no decision on Opening Day 2026 at Gardner-Webb… Did not allow an earned run (three total runs) over seven strong innings while scattering six hits and walking none to pick up the win on Feb. 21 at USC Upstate, helping Valpo beat a 36-win, NCAA Regional team from last season… Had an immaculate second inning in a nine-inning shutout on Feb. 28 at Alabama State, scattering three hits, walking none and striking out 11. He was ranked No. 2 on D1Baseball.com's Top 100 pitchers for Week 3 of the season and earned his fourth career MVC Pitcher of the Week nod. Also reached the 200-career strikeout threshold by tying a career high against the Hornets… Went 7 2/3 innings and yielded three runs on seven hits while striking out five and walking none in a tough-luck loss on March 14 at SIUE… Moved into the program's all-time top 10 for both strikeouts and innings pitched while tossing his second complete game of the season and the fifth of his career in a 3-1 loss on March 21 at Murray State.
• #32 RHP Nick Baffa, So. (Glenview, Ill. / Notre Dame College Prep) – Made 14 appearances including five starts while striking out 23 and walking 17 in 26 innings as a freshman in 2025… Loves to take naps almost every day… Favorite TV show is SpongeBob SquarePants… Played for Athletic Barn Baseball, Future Games and WWBA Jupiter Florida Chicago Scouts Association… Made his collegiate debut with a scoreless inning on Feb. 22, 2025 at Memphis… Also hurled a shutout frame in his second outing on March 8, 2025 at Ohio State… Entered the March 25, 2025 game at Purdue with two on and nobody out in the seventh and worked out of the jam, ending the inning with consecutive strikeouts… Worked two shutout innings in Valpo's April 1, 2025 victory over Milwaukee… Made his first collegiate start on April 15, 2025 at Notre Dame, pitching shutout ball over the first three innings but running out of steam in the fourth, when he allowed five runs and did not record an out… Started and allowed one unearned run on three hits while walking none and striking out three over three innings on April 22, 2025 vs. Northern Illinois… Picked up the win on March 1, 2026 after going five innings of one-run, five-hit ball with six strikeouts and one walk at Alabama State. The five innings and six strikeouts both marked career highs as he achieved his first collegiate victory… Allowed just two earned runs (six total runs) on six hits in 4 2/3 innings with the wind blowing out on March 15 at SIUE… Pitched in relief and was charged with no runs in 1 1/3 innings on March 24 at Purdue.

Pitching Profiles – Bullpen Bits

• #2 RHP Cayden Ray, Fr. (Owensboro, Ky. / Owensboro) – Three-year all-region and three-time all-district choice in high school… Also played three years of football… 2025 District Player of the Year… Pitched a scoreless inning out of the bullpen on March 13 at SIUE.
• #10 LHP Christian Hack, R-Sr. (Oak Forest, Ill. / Tinley Park) – In his fourth year in Valpo's program in 2026… Missed most of the 2025 season with an injury… Has logged 27 innings over 24 games in his first four collegiate seasons… Won $10,000 at a Valpo basketball game on Feb.7, 2026, winning the Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute Series Shootout promotion by making a layup, free throw, 3-pointer and halfcourt shot within 25 seconds, all while wearing an Illinois Fighting Illini jersey from Valpo men's basketball head coach Roger Powell Jr.'s playing days… Flipped a scoreless inning on March 24 at Purdue.
• #16 RHP Justin Bultemeier, R-Sr. (Decatur, Ind. / Adams Central) – Finished 13^th nationally in NJCAA DII in ERA while pitching at Ivy Tech CC… Spent the 2024 and 2025 seasons at IU Kokomo… Was a Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League All-Star… Graduated with a bachelor's in health and exercise science and is pursuing his graduate public health certificate at Valpo… Picked up the win in relief in his Valpo debut on Feb. 14, allowing one run on three hits in 2 1/3 innings… Flipped two scoreless frames on a tough day to pitch with the wind howling out on Feb. 22 at Presbyterian… Worked two scoreless innings in the March 1 victory at Alabama State…. Worked a shutout inning on March 6 at Jax State.
• #17 LHP Luke Albrecht, Fr. (Brownsburg, Ind. / Brownsburg) – Won a regional championship as a high school sophomore… Favorite TV show is Impractical Jokers.
• #18 RHP Joey Kafka, Fr. (Mundelein, Ill. / Mundelein) – Two-time all-conference and all-area choice in high school… Favorite MLB team is the Cubs and player is Shota Imanaga… Hobbies include fly fishing, camping and music… Threw two shutout innings in the Feb. 27 series opener at Alabama State.
• #20 RHP Hunter Frost, Sr. (Farmington, Minn. / Farmington) – Went 4-2 with a 4.50 ERA while appearing in 14 games and making 11 starts for Iowa Central Community College in 2024… 2021 4A Minnesota state champion and 2022 4A Minnesota state runner-up… Also competed in wrestling in high school… Majoring in elementary education… Favorite pro baseball team is the Minnesota Twins… Favorite food is steak stir fry… Did not allow a run in 1 2/3 innings of relief on April 29, 2025 at Western Michigan… Pitched two shutout innings in the second game of a May 3, 2025 doubleheader vs. UIC… Fired a season-high 2 2/3 innings and did not allow a run on May 10, 2025 vs. Bradley… Tossed a shutout inning on March 24, 2026 at Purdue.
• #22 LHP Colton Rerick, Fr. (South Bend, Ind.) – First team all-conference honoree as a senior in high school… Is ambidextrous… Favorite food is crab… Enjoys golfing and going to the lake.
• #24 Adam Guazzo, R-So. (Huntley, Ill. / Huntley) – Was sidelined and did not see action during his first season on campus in 2023... Two-time all-conference performer in basketball in addition to earning all-conference on the diamond as a senior in high school... Set his high school's record for rebounds in a single season on the hardwood with 320 in 2021-22... Favorite TV shows are Breaking Bad and Ozarks… Pitched in 15 games and made nine starts in 2024 before making 17 appearances, all in relief, in 2025… Nailed down his first collegiate save with 1 2/3 scoreless inning on Feb. 23 at Memphis… Tossed a shutout frame on March 7, 2025 at Ohio State to earn his second save… Allowed one run on one hit over two frames of relief on March 15, 2025 at Illinois… Entered the March 25, 2025 game at Purdue with the Beacons in a jam in the bottom of the eighth and limited the damage as he was not charged with a run while allowing no hits, striking out two and recording all three outs in the inning… Earned his first collegiate win with three shutout innings of two-hit ball in the 3-2, 10-inning victory over Illinois State on April 6, 2025… Worked two scoreless innings on April 19, 2025 vs. Murray State… Did not allow a hit or a run in his inning of relief on May 3, 2025 in the second game of a doubleheader vs. UIC… Made his first start of the season on Feb. 20, 2026 at Wofford and allowed just one unearned run on one hit over two innings, but took the loss… Started and went two shutout innings on Feb. 27 at Alabama State… Started and went three shutout innings on March 6 at Jax State, stretching his scoreless inning streak to five… Continued his scoreless innings streak on March 13 at SIUE by starting and going two scoreless frames… Stretched his scoreless innings streak to nine before eventually allowing a solo home run on a tough day to pitch on March 15 at SIUE, earning the victory in relief on his birthday by going three innings and permitting just the one run… Started and went two shutout innings while allowing three hits and walking one on March 20 at Murray State, pitching scoreless ball for his fourth straight start… Pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief in the March 22 series finale at Murray State, working shutout ball for the fifth time in his last six outings.
• #26 RHP Ryan Kruse, R-Jr. (Detroit, Mich. / U of D Jesuit) – In his third season in the program after redshirting at Northern Kentucky in 2023… Enjoys golfing, swimming, snowboarding, working out and tennis… Favorite movie is The Dark Knight… Made 21 relief appearances in 2025, including nine where he heaved scoreless ball… Worked a scoreless inning in the series finale at Samford on Feb. 16, 2025, his first action of the season… Did not allow a run in an inning of work on March 9, 2025 at Ohio State… Pitched two scoreless, hitless innings to finish out Valpo's victory at Indiana State on March 21, 2025, helping the Beacons snap a 25-game head-to-head losing streak… Nailed down his first collegiate save on April 1, 2025 vs. Milwaukee with a 1-2-3 ninth… Pitched three shutout innings of one-hit, no-walk ball that played a crucial role in a 3-2 victory over Illinois State on April 6, 2025… Tossed two scoreless innings on April 19, 2025 vs. Murray State… Pitched scoreless ball for the second straight outing and the fourth time in his last six appearances, logging two innings out of the pen on April 27, 2025 at Belmont… Pitched scoreless ball for the third straight outing and fifth time in his last six games with a shutout inning on May 2, 2025 vs. UIC… Entered the game amidst a ninth-inning jam and struck out three of the four men he faced to preserve the 10-5 win at USC Upstate on Feb. 21… Pitched two scoreless innings to nail down the save on March 1, 2026 at Alabama State… Cruised through 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief while allowing three hits and one walk on March 20 at Murray State.
• ­­­#27 RHP Dylan Swinehart, R-Sr. (Elkhart, Ind. / Concord) – Previously played at Indiana Tech (2022) and Taylor (2023-2025)… While at Taylor, posted a 14-8 record, nine saves, 150 strikeouts and 39 walks over 136 2/3 innings in 63 career games spanning three seasons… Favorite MLB player is Randy Johnson… Worked a scoreless ninth inning on a tough day to pitch with the wind howling out on Feb. 22 at Presbyterian… Threw one pitch and went a 1/3 of an inning on March 14 at SIUE, getting out of the inning thanks to a caught stealing.
• #29 RHP Spencer Boynton, R-Sr. (Tampa, Fla. / Seffner Christian) – Was an all-conference honoree at Eastern Nazarene College, where he spent two seasons before joining the Beacons prior to the 2024 campaign, which he missed due to an injury… Hobbies include golf, tennis, ping pong and video games… Favorite movie is The Usual Suspects, food is pizza, pro baseball team is the San Francisco Giants and MLB players are Buster Posey and Kevin Gausman… Garnered his first collegiate victory with a bounce-back outing on Feb. 23 at Memphis. He was perfect through four innings and totaled five frames of two-hit, no-walk ball while striking out five…. Went five scoreless innings in his April 27, 2025 start at Belmont, receiving no decision in a game the team lost 1-0. He pitched shutout ball for the first time in the 2025 season, marking his best start of the year… Allowed one unearned run in two innings of relief on March 20 at Murray State… Started and went two shutout innings on March 24 at Purdue.
• #31 RHP Joe Seiber, R-Sr. (Homer Glen, Ill. / Lockport) – Third team junior college All-American at College of DuPage… Favorite MLB team is the Chicago White Sox… Favorite movie is Billy Madison… Joined the program prior to the 2024 season as a junior college transfer… Worked in 33 games and totaled 48 1/3 innings over his first two seasons at Valpo in 2024 and 2025… Was charged with no runs on two hits and no walks in two innings of work in the March 14, 2025 series opener at Illinois… Made his first Valpo start on March 25, 2025 vs. Ball State and allowed two runs on two hits and no walks in two innings… Pitched a shutout inning on April 15, 2025 at Notre Dame, seeing his first action since March 28 at Evansville after missing time with an injury… Pitched a shutout inning on April 15 at Notre Dame, seeing his first action since March 28 at Evansville after missing time with an injury.
• #33 RHP Dylan Immel, R-Sr. (Brownsville, Wis.) – Started his collegiate career with two junior college years and was an All-American at Century College… Pitched in 27 games and made 10 starts over two seasons at Sioux Falls… Favorite pro baseball team is the Milwaukee Brewers… Threw a scoreless inning in his Valpo debut on Feb. 13 at Gardner-Webb.

Position Player Profiles – Projected Lineup (Based on Last Game)

• #3 Michael Kuska, CF, So. (Pontiac, Ill. / Pontiac Township) – Played in 11 games and made one start for the Beacons last season… Enjoys golfing and watching the Chicago Blackhawks… Had four hits, four runs scored, two walks, six RBIs and two triples on Feb. 22 at Presbyterian… Went 3-for-3 plus a walk on March 20 at Murray State and followed with two more hits in Game 2 of the series on March 21.
• #7 Javin Gauthier, 2B, R-Fr. (De Pere, Wis. / De Pere) – Saw limited action in three games before missing the rest of the 2025 season with an injury… Hobbies include lifting, adventures, pickleball, listening to music and ping pong… Favorite TV Show is Stranger Things… Was named MVC Player of the Week on Feb. 24 after posting a .667/.765/1.083 slash line over three games in South Carolina, totaling 13 bases, six runs scored, eight RBIs and five walks in three games. He was No. 33 on D1Baseball.com's Top 100 Hitters that weekend, which included his first collegiate home run on Feb. 21 at USC Upstate. He became Valpo's first MVC Player of the Week since 2023… Hit his second home run of the season on March 1 at Alabama State… Had two hits in the series opener on March 6 at Jax State before notching his first collegiate triple on March 7 against the Gamecocks… Led the team with two hits in the March 13 series opener at SIUE… Hit his third home run of the season in the March 20 series opener at Murray State… Ripped his fourth home run of the season and second of the series on March 22 at Murray State.
• #12 Thomas Cooper, 3B, R-Jr. (Brentwood, Tenn. / Ravenwood) – Appeared in 15 games and made eight starts in 2023 before redshirting in 2024… Was a state runner-up in football in high school… Has a Lego collection… Favorite food is ice cream… Favorite MLB team is the Atlanta Braves… Had his first collegiate extra-base hit with a double on Feb. 16, 2025 at Samford, the team's lone extra-base knock in that game… Hit his first career home run in Game 2 of a Feb. 22, 2025 doubleheader at Memphis… Missed seven games with an injury before returning to action on March 18, 2025 at Ball State… Hit a grand slam on April 29, 2025 at Western Michigan, the team's first of the season… Had two hits on May 6 vs. Western Michigan… Launched his first home run of the season, one that traveled 447 feet, on March 14 at SIUE, part of a two-hit game… Homered for the second straight game on March 15 at SIUE… Hit his third home run of the season, all in a five-game span, on March 22 at Murray State.
• #9 Cal Schembra, 1B, Fr. (Greenwood, Ill. / Center Grove) – Hit .340 with four home runs as a high school senior… Hit a walk-off double to win the 2025 sectional title… Has six siblings… Is ambidextrous and does everything right-handed other than baseball… Had three hits in his collegiate debut on Feb. 13 at Gardner Webb and had multi-hit games in each of his first three collegiate contests… Made a diving catch in foul territory and doubled up the runner trying to tag and score on Feb. 13 Gardner-Webb, a play that was No. 2 in D1Baseball's Plays of the Week… Smoked his first collegiate home run in a Feb. 14 victory at Gardner-Webb… Hit .500 with a home run, five RBIs and four runs scored in the first week of his collegiate career, earning MVC Freshman of the Week honors and checking in as the No. 77 hitter nationally in the first week of the season according to D1Baseball… Had his first collegiate triple on Feb. 20 at Wofford… Hit his second home run of the season in the Feb. 27 series opener at Alabama State… Tripled on March 1 at Alabama State, his second triple of the season… Hit his third home run of the season and first in the month of March on March 22 at Murray State.
• #8 George Betevis, RF, R-Sr. (Hanover Park, Ill. / Bartlett) – Earned a Rawlings Gold Glove last season… Spent two years at Harper College before two years at Benedictine… Pursuing his MBA at Valpo… Hit his first Valpo home run and the 24^th total of his collegiate career in the March 15 win at SIUE.  
• #15 Gavin Bennett, DH, R-Sr. (Libertyville, Ill. / Libertyville) – Played in three games over four seasons at Illinois… Hit his first collegiate home run on March 31, 2023 vs. Michigan… Lashed out two hits on March 14 at SIUE.

• #6 Eli Riley, C, R-Sr. (Zanesville, Ind. / Norwell) – Played at Saint Francis (Ind.) for the last four years and totaled 22 home runs, 100 RBIs and 148 hits while posting a .289 average in 192 career games… Earned first team all-conference honors in 2024 and 2025 while also achieving a spot on the league's gold glove team in each of those seasons… Favorite musical group is All-American Rejects… Graduated from Saint Francis with a degree in management in 2025 and is pursuing an MBA at Valpo… Led the team with three hits in a March 15 victory at SIUE… Went 3-for-4 with two runs scored while doubling twice on March 22 at Murray State. He had his second two-double game and second three-hit game of the season.
• #42 Brayden Pleau, LF, Jr. (Appleton, Wis. / Kimberly) – Played two junior college seasons at Bryant & Stratton, where he set the program single-season and career records for hits… Favorite movie is The Sandlot… Had a multi-hit game on Feb. 28 at Alabama State with a season-high three hits… Went 4-for-4, accounting for four of the team's seven hits, on March 24 vs. Indiana State.
• #34 Case Sullivan, SS, R-So. (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel) – Joined the program after redshirting at Marshall in 2024, where he was a member of the president's list with a perfect 4.0 GPA… Is a triplet with his two siblings, Colin and Lily… Lily plays softball at the University of Akron and Colin is an engineering student at Purdue… Favorite pro baseball team is the Boston Red Sox and player is Mookie Betts… Had four hits on his first day in a Valpo uniform on Feb. 14, 2025 at Samford, going 3-for-3 with a walk in Game 2 of the season-opening doubleheader… Homered in the first game of the series at Memphis on Feb. 22, 2025, the first of his collegiate career… Played solid shortstop in addition to going 3-for-5 with two doubles on Feb. 23, 2025 at Memphis… Reached base five times with a double, homer and three walks on April 17, 2025 vs. Murray State… Homered on his birthday on April 22, 2025 vs. Northern Illinois… Collected a season-high four hits and a season-high four runs scored on May 16, 2025 vs. Southern Illinois while driving in six, the highest RBI total by a Beacon in over four full years… Homered in each of the final two games of the 2025 season, helping Valpo to wins over SIU on May 16 and 17… Named the Brooks Wallace Award National Shortstop of the Week by the College Baseball Foundation following the final week of the season, during which he hit .500, reached at a .526 clip and slugged 1.125… Batted .257 while starting all 50 games in his first year at Valpo… Had his first collegiate triple and his second career game with at least four RBIs on Feb. 14 as the triple drove in two and gave Valpo the lead in the final inning of an 11-10 victory over Gardner-Webb… Went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored with two doubles and a triple on March 22 at Murray State, enjoying his first three-hit game of the season.

Inside the Assistants

• Adam Brian is in his third season on Valpo's staff after graduating from Bradley. He works with the team's catchers, assists with pitching and leads recruiting efforts. Brian's father Braden Brian played college baseball at Eastern Kentucky and was selected in the 30^th round of the 1986 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Montreal Expos.
• Chase Hetzel has joined the staff for the 2026 season as Valpo's hitting coach. Hetzel arrived at Valpo after having served as the Director of Hitting for X2 Baseball, a player development and training facility in North Carolina, since 2022. He graduated from Queens University of Charlotte in Charlotte, N.C. in 2021.
• Brady Nowicki joined the coaching staff in 2025 after playing for the team each of the previous three seasons. He is in his second season as a volunteer assistant coach.
• Cole Pletcher is in his first season as a volunteer assistant coach at Valpo after playing at King University.