The Valpo softball team earned its first win since 2018 over Illinois State Friday in Normal, Ill., as the Beacons used a lot of small ball and a strong relief effort from Azalya Lopez (Corona, Calif./Eleanor Roosevelt [MSU Moorhead]) to earn a 7-1 win in a weather-shortened nightcap. The host Redbirds earned a 9-2 win in the opener.
 
How It Happened – Game One

• Valpo jumped out in front in its first turn at the plate to start the day. Kim Rodas (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon) got on base with a two-out single, and Mack Gallagher (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East [MSU Moorhead]) followed by driving the first pitch she saw over the wall in center to give the Beacons a quick 2-0 lead.
• The advantage proved to be short-lived, however, as Illinois State's first two batters of the bottom of the first both drew walks before a three-run homer put the Redbirds in front.
• Valpo had chances throughout the remainder of the game to add to its score line, putting at least one runner on in five of the final six innings. The Beacons' best opportunity came in the top of the sixth when they loaded the bases with two outs before a fly out ended the threat.
• Illinois State extended its lead with a four-run second inning, three of which were unearned. The Redbirds closed the scoring with a single run in the fourth.

 
How It Happened – Game Two

• For the second time in as many games Friday, Valpo plated a pair of runs in the top of the first, and once again it was Gallagher driving them in. Madison Vrastil (Oak Forest, Ill./Andrew) led off the game with a single and Kayden Krug (Milford, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) followed by reaching on an error. Two batters later, Gallagher drilled a shot inside the third-base bag to score both runners and put the Beacons on top, 2-0.
• A pair of Valpo errors in the bottom of the first allowed Illinois State to score its first run, but a great defensive play limited the Redbirds to the lone run, as Lopez ranged out from second base into the outfield down the right-field line to snag a pop-up and then had the presence of mind to turn and rifle a strike to the plate, where Vrastil applied the tag on the ISU runner attempting to score from third for the double play.
• After keeping the one-run lead through the second and third frames, the Beacons extended it in the fourth. Kaia Garnica (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) and Cadan Brinkman (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community [Campbell/Wofford]) led off the inning with back-to-back singles and then were sacrificed up 60 feet. Valpo then went to the squeeze play with back-to-back hitters, as first Lopez and then Sophia Leitzen (Orfordville, Wis./Brodhead) delivered perfect bunts that the Redbirds were late trying to make a play at the plate on, pushing the Beacons' lead to 4-1.
• A 55-minute delay for lightning in the middle of Valpo's turn at the plate did little to slow its offensive momentum. The Beacons plated two more in that frame, as Brinkman registered a sacrifice fly and Marissa Jackson (Willis, Mich./Huron) followed with an RBI single to make it a 6-1 game.
• With potential weather looming that could affect the length of the game, Lopez induced a groundout with two on and two out in the bottom of the fifth, keeping the Redbirds off the board as the game reached official length.
• Gallagher's big day continued with an RBI single in the sixth, scoring Krug to push the lead to 7-1.
• The Beacons got another impressive defensive play in the bottom of the sixth, as after a leadoff double, Leitzen caught a fly ball in right field, fired to the cutoff Jenna Flessner (Washington, Ill./Washington), who relayed it to Brinkman at third to apply the tag and complete a double play on the runner trying to advance.
• Illinois State threatened in its final turn at the plate in the seventh, taking advantage of two Valpo errors and a base hit to load the bases with nobody out. But before the Redbirds' fourth batter of the inning could step to the plate, the game entered another lightning delay. After an 85-minute wait which included a trip to the basement of Horton Field House to wait out a tornado warning, the game was officially called short of a complete seven innings.

 
Inside the Games

• Valpo's win was just the third in program history over Illinois State, and the first since taking two of three from the Redbirds in their first series as MVC foes in 2018. The Redbirds had a 20-game win streak in the series after their win in the opener before the Beacons snapped it with their nightcap win.
• The victory Friday came over an Illinois State program which entered the day second in the MVC standings.
• Gallagher had a big day at the plate across the two games, going 4-for-6 with a walk and five RBIs. Her home run in the opener was her eighth of the season and the 31^st of her collegiate career.
• Gallagher has tallied 11 multiple-RBI games and eight multi-hit games this season.
• Garnica registered her third three-hit game of the season in the nightcap, while Vrastil picked up multiple hits for the 16^th time this year.
• At the plate in the nightcap, Lopez reached base three times, going 1-for-1 with two walks in addition to her squeeze bunt. When called upon in the circle, she was ready aa well, as the senior tossed 3.1 shutout innings to improve to 6-6 on the season.
• Caitlyn Quickle (Leesburg, Ohio/Fairfield Local) recorded a strong opening performance in the circle as well, starting and giving up just one unearned run in her 2.2 innings of work.
• Valpo laid down a total of five sacrifice bunts in its nightcap win, its highest single-game total since dropping down five sacrifices in an 11-9 win over Youngstown State which clinched the 2013 Horizon League Tournament title.
• The Beacons racked up 11 hits in the nightcap, all of them singles — ironically, the last time they notched 11 base hits without an extra-base knock also came at Illinois State, two years ago on April 13, 2024.
• Rodas recorded her seventh multi-hit game this season in the opener, while Brinkman reached base twice in that contest as well.

 
Next Up
Valpo (15-20, 4-9 MVC) steps away from MVC play next Wednesday, April 8 as it makes the short trip to take on Notre Dame. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. CT.