April 23, 20231234567RHE
UIC068250021160
Valparaiso0001042783
PitchingIPHRERBBSO
Win: ZACK (3-2) 5.265524
Loss: Nowak (4-1) 2.046131
BattingABRHRBIBBHR
PETERSEN (UIC) 514400
Ryan (VALPO) 202110
BoxscorePlay-by-Play
Baseball Drops Finale But Takes Series From UIC
Sunday, April 23, 2023
Baseball Drops Finale But Takes Series From UIC
Matt Olive doubled in Sunday's series finale.

The Valparaiso University baseball team had already wrapped up a series victory by virtue of wins on Friday and Saturday, but visiting UIC salvaged the finale of the three-game Missouri Valley Conference set by prevailing on Sunday by a football score of 21-7.

How It Happened

  • The Flames started the scoring with six runs in the second inning including a three-run homer by Carson Roberts.
  • The game got out of hand in the third when UIC added eight more runs including a two-run homer by Max Farfan to make it 14-0.
  • UIC got two more in the top of the fourth, but a solo homer by Jake Skrine (Longmont, Colo. / Mead [Indiana]) down the right-field line in the bottom of the inning got the Beacons on the board.
  • Five more runs crossed the plate for UIC in the top of the fifth to make it 21-1.
  • Valpo scored four times in the sixth as Ryan Maka (Oak Forest, Ill. / Oak Forest) lifted a sacrifice fly before Thomas Cooper (Brentwood, Tenn. / Ravenwood) drove in two with a single and Alex Ryan (Lake Mills, Wis. / Lakeside Lutheran) singled to drive in a fourth run and make it 21-5.
  • Maka continued his recent hot hitting with a two-run homer that stayed fair down the right-field line in the bottom of the seventh to conclude the scoring in the game.

Inside the Game

  • Maka homered for the second time in the series and lifted his season total to six. He now owns 11 career home runs.
  • Skrine drilled his seventh home run of the season, five of which have come in the last seven games.
  • Bright spots from the pitching staff were Cole Syersen (Land O’Lakes, Fla. / Academy at Lakes) and Jonathan Hyman (Bellbrook, Ohio / Bellbrook [Paradise Valley CC / IMG]), who combined for 2 1/3 scoreless innings while allowing no hits and walking one.
  • Redshirt freshman Patrick Ilitch (Detroit, Mich. / University Liggett [IMG]) had his first collegiate hit.

Up Next

Valpo (16-16, 7-8 MVC) will visit Purdue on Tuesday at 5 p.m. CT / 6 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on B1G+ with links to live video and stats available on ValpoAthletics.com.