Valparaiso University

Heartbreak City struck again for the Valparaiso University baseball team on Friday night in Normal, Ill.
 
A season where the Beacons have played much better than their record would indicate but often been on the wrong end of nip-and-tuck affairs authored its latest chapter, as redshirt junior Thomas Cooper (Brentwood, Tenn. / Ravenwood) delivered a two-out, go-ahead single in the top of the ninth to put Valpo ahead 5-4, but Illinois State responded with a two-out hit off the wall in left that scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth in a 6-5 victory for the hosts.
 
How It Happened

• Valpo struck first as Cooper doubled down the left-field line in the top of the first and redshirt senior Eli Riley (Zanesville, Ind. / Norwell) scored from first as the ball was misplayed in left.
• Valpo added to the early lead with three runs in the top of the second, taking advantage of the wildness of the Redbirds starter as the first three batters reached via the free pass (two walks, one HBP). After that, the Beacons used small ball to tack on as redshirt sophomore Case Sullivan (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel) lifted a sacrifice fly and sophomore Michael Kuska (Pontiac, Ill. / Pontiac Township) laid down a squeeze bunt. The Beacons scored again when Riley ripped an RBI single through the left side to build the edge to 4-0.
• Valpo starter Adam Guazzo (Huntley, Ill. / Huntley) sent down six straight after a leadoff single to begin the second, but Michael Carrano got Illinois State on the board with a solo homer to lead off the fourth, cutting the Valpo lead to 4-1.
• The first two Illinois State batters were retired in the fifth, but a string of three straight hits including two home runs followed. Graham Mastros had a solo shot and Brayden Bakes had a two-run job to tie the game at four.
• After the three-run fifth, Guazzo buckled down and pitched the next two innings without allowing any further damage. The Redbirds had runners at first and third in the seventh when Guazzo induced an inning-ending pop fly.
• Valpo threatened into the top of the eighth when Cal Schembra (Greenwood, Ind. / Center Grove) drew a one-out walk and then scampered to third on a hit-and-run single by Javin Gauthier (De Pere, Wis. / De Pere). Valpo laid down a squeeze bunt, and the pitcher threw home to retire Schembra on a bang-bang play. Valpo challenged the call but it stood after a lengthy review.
• The first two Beacons were retired in the top of the ninth, but Riley singled and stole second, setting up Cooper's clutch hit that plated the go-ahead run.
• An infield single and two walks loaded the bases for the Redbirds with nobody out in the bottom of the ninth. Valpo induced a 4-6-3 double play, and the call on the field was runner's interference on the runner who was out at second, which means the runner who had crossed the plate to score the tying run would have been sent back to third and the other runner would have been sent back to second in addition to the double play. However, the play was challenged and the call of interference was overturned. The double play stood, but the tying run scored and the other runner advanced to third.
• With two outs, a runner at third and the game tied at five, Luke Stugla belted one off the fence in left, just missing a home run but not missing a long walk-off single.

Inside the Game

• Riley reached base safely for the 26^th consecutive game, Valpo's longest on-base streak since Kaleb Hannahs also reached in 26 straight during the 2024 season.
• Guazzo received no decision, allowing four runs on nine hits in seven innings while walking none and striking out four. Over his last four starts, Guazzo has 18 strikeouts against no walks.
• This was the 50^th career pitching appearance for Guazzo, who has logged at least 6 1/3 innings in three straight starts and has covered seven frames in each of his last two outings, tying a career high.
• Valpo fell to 1-11 this season and 2-20 over the last two seasons in one-run games.
• In conference play, Valpo fell to 0-6 in one-run games and 0-8 in games decided by two runs or fewer.
• Riley, Cooper and Louie Kegerreis (Murrysville, Pa. / Franklin Regional) had two hits apiece, combining for six of the team's seven knocks.

Up Next
The Beacons (10-31, 3-13 MVC) will continue the three-game series on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Normal, Ill. The game will air on ESPN+.