Beacons Drop Doubleheader to NIU
The Valpo softball team played its final nonconference games of the regular season Wednesday afternoon at the Valpo Softball Complex, falling to visiting Northern Illinois by final scores of 5-2 and 8-0.
How It Happened – Game One
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â NIU loaded the bases in the top of the first, but Valpo starter Sydney McDermott (Stout, Ohio/Portsmouth West) escaped the jam by getting a grounder to third.
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The Huskies opened the scoring with a two-out RBI single in the third inning.
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â NIU scored three runs in the fifth inning without the benefit of a hit, taking advantage of four walks and a hit batter.
–       The Huskies scored what proved to be a helpful insurance run in the top of the seventh inning, as NIU’s runner was judged to have crossed home plate on an RBI single before senior Kayla Skapyak (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) threw out a trail runner at third base.
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The Beacons put together a rally in the bottom of the seventh to get on the board. Senior Emily Crompton (Salem, Ill./Christ Our Rock Lutheran) singled with one out, and freshman Natalie Bush (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) drew a walk two batters later to give Valpo a pair of baserunners.
–       Freshman Cici Wilson (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles East) pinch hit and dropped a single into shallow center. Junior Lauren Sena (McHenry, Ill./McHenry), pinch-running for Crompton, beat the throw home for the Beacons’ first run. The throw got away from the NIU catcher, allowing freshman Carson Kuhlmann (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) — who pinch ran for Bush — to scamper home as well, making it 5-2. A groundout ended the game with the potential tying run in the on-deck circle.
How It Happened – Game Two
–       NIU got on the board in its first turn at the plate, as Caitlyn Shumaker connected on a three-run homer — all three runs being unearned.
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The Huskies added a sac fly for an unearned run in the second and RBI singles for one run apiece in the third and fifth innings.
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â A two-out, two-run homer by Madison Mathews in the top of the sixth put the game in run-rule territory.
Inside the Games
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Coming off her first career home run on Sunday, Bush stayed hot at the plate on Wednesday. The freshman went 1-for-2 with a walk in the opener and then had her first career multi-hit game in the nightcap, going 2-for-3.
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Crompton picked up a hit in both games as well, going 1-for-2 with a walk in the opener and 1-for-3 in the nightcap.
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Freshman Lana Tellez (Chino Hills, Calif./Chino Hills) made her first collegiate start at catcher in the nightcap and reached base twice, including her first career hit in the fifth inning.
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Freshman Madison Stamper (Matthews, N.C./Porter Ridge) started at catcher in the opener and tallied her first career caught stealing from behind the plate.
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Skapyak stole a base in the opener, her eighth of the season and the 19th of her career.
Next Up
Valpo (8-34) has seven MVC games remaining in the regular season, beginning with a three-game set against Murray State this weekend at the Valpo Softball Complex. The first game is currently slated for a 3 p.m. first pitch on Friday, but weather could be an issue — check ValpoAthletics.com and Valpo Softball social media for any updates.