Box Score Illinois State pulled away late to beat the Valparaiso University baseball team 14-2, scoring eight times in the bottom of the eighth to invoke the 10-run rule on a game-ending three-run homer by Payton McHarg on Saturday at Duffy Bass Field in Normal, Ill.
 
How It Happened

• Illinois State scored twice in the opening inning as the Beacons committed a pair of errors leading to two runs. It could have been worse if it weren't for a nice sprawling catch by left fielder Bryan Hatch (Des Plaines, Ill. / St. Viator) to end the inning.
• Valpo starting pitcher Connor Lockwood (Libertyville, Ill. / Libertyville) put up zeros in the third and fourth innings to keep the deficit at two, but Michael Carrano ripped a home run to center with one away in the fifth, a solo shot that stretched the lead to 3-0.
• A two-out knock by Thomas Cooper (Brentwood, Tenn. / Ravenwood) got Valpo on the board in the sixth as Case Sullivan (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel) trotted home from third after leading off the inning with a single.
• Illinois State added three in the sixth on five hits, boosting the edge to 6-1 and getting into the Valpo bullpen.
• Valpo picked up one in the eighth as Gavin Bennett (Libertyville, Ill. / Libertyville) led off with a double before scoring on a single by Michael Kuska (Pontiac, Ill. / Pontiac Township) to make it 6-2.
• Illinois State poured on eight in the bottom of the eighth.

Inside the Game

• Lockwood struck out three and walked none in his start while covering 5 2/3 innings during which he allowed six runs (five earned) on 11 hits. He has logged 313 1/3 innings in his career, surpassing Tyler Deetjen (2009-2012, 311 1/3) to move to fourth in program history.
• Dalton Lundeen's program record for career innings pitched (347 1/3, 2013-2016) will stand, but Lockwood still has a chance to finish second in program history in innings pitched, although his chances were negatively impacted on Saturday. He needs more than 14 1/3 innings over his final two starts to finish second in program history. Jon Gulbransen (2008-2011, 327 1/3) and Harvey Yergin (2004-2007, 314 2/3) are currently second and third.
• This marked the sixth start this season where Lockwood has issued no walks. He's permitted more than one just once all season and has not yielded more than two in any one outing. Lockwood has walked none over 14 1/3 innings over his last two starts. Valpo starting pitchers have issued no walks in 12 1/3 innings so far in this series at Illinois State.
• Kuska and Sullivan had two hits apiece to lead the team.
• Redshirt senior Eli Riley (Zanesville, Ind. / Norwell) saw his 26-game on-base streak come to an end. He had Valpo's longest on-base streak since Kaleb Hannahs also reached in 26 straight in 2024.

Up Next
The Beacons (10-32, 3-14 MVC) and Redbirds will close out the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Normal, Ill. The game will air on ESPN+.