The Valpo softball team dropped both ends of an MVC doubleheader Tuesday at home against UIC, falling 6-2 in the opener and 12-4 in the nightcap. The Beacons' scheduled game versus Western Michigan Wednesday afternoon has been canceled due to impending weather.
 
How It Happened – Game One

• Valpo has chances early on to take the lead, but was unable to take advantage of having runners on first and second with one out in the first inning and second and third with one out in the second inning.
• UIC took the lead for good in the top of the third, scoring four runs on four hits and a walk.
• The Beacons got on the board in their next turn at the plate, plating their first run on back-to-back doubles from Madison Vrastil (Oak Forest, Ill./Andrew) and Marissa Jackson (Willis, Mich./Huron) to lead off the inning. They had second and third with one out later in the frame with a chance to cut further into the deficit, but again were unable to take advantage of the runners on base.
• UIC answered with an unearned run in the top of the fourth to return its lead to four runs.
• Valpo got that run back with a two-out RBI double by Vrastil in the bottom of the inning.
• For the second straight inning, the Flames plated an unearned run in the fifth, this time closing out the scoring as the Beacons had just one baserunner in the final three innings.

 
How It Happened – Game Two

• Valpo doubled its first-game output in the opening inning of game two, scoring four runs as Kim Rodas (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon) had a run-scoring single, Sophia Leitzen (Orfordville, Wis./Brodhead) brought home a run by drawing a bases-loaded walk and Lyna Vasquez (Moreno Valley, Calif./Valley View) delivered a two-run double with two outs. When the frame came to a close, the Beacons led 4-0 after tallying three hits and three walks.
• But the Flames came back with a five-run top of the second, taking advantage of four hits and an error which allowed two UIC runners to score.
• UIC added four runs in the third, three of which were unearned, and capped the scoring with a three-run top of the fifth to push the game into run-rule territory.

 
Inside the Games

• Vrastil and Jackson each had multi-hit games in the opener, for Vrastil her team-best 18^th multi-hit game of the year and for Jackson her eighth such game.
• For Vrastil, it was her third game with multiple doubles this season, while Jackson had a pair of doubles as well after entering the game with just one career two-bagger in 88 games.
• Rodas reached twice in the opener as well, recording a hit and a walk.
• Cadan Brinkman (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community [Campbell/Wofford]) had her fourth multi-hit game of the season in the nightcap, while Vrastil and Leitzen each reached twice in that game as they both drew a pair of walks.
• Making just her second start in 2026, Vasquez's first-inning two-run double in the nightcap was her first hit and first runs driven in of the season.
• Sydney McDermott (Stout, Ohio/Portsmouth West) started and took the loss in the opener, falling to 8-10 as she went the first 2.1 innings. Caitlyn Quickle (Leesburg, Ohio/Fairfield Local) did not surrender an earned run in 4.2 innings out of the bullpen behind McDermott.
• Azalya Lopez (Corona, Calif./Eleanor Roosevelt [MSU Moorhead]) took the loss in the circle in the nightcap in relief, falling to 6-7.
• Coming off a Belmont series where they committed eight errors, the Beacons' defense struggled against on Tuesday, as Valpo committed seven errors over the two games, with the Flames scoring seven unearned runs.

 
Next Up
With Wednesday's game canceled, Valpo (16-25, 4-14 MVC) returns to action Friday afternoon with a 2:30 p.m. doubleheader at Drake.