The Valparaiso University baseball team dropped the series opener to No. 17 Alabama on Friday by a score of 14-2 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Crimson Tide put together four crooked numbers en route to invoking the 10-run rule after seven innings.

How It Happened

• The hosts put up a six spot in the bottom of the second to open the scoring including a three-run homer that accounted for half of the inning’s run production.  
• Valpo got on the board in the top of the third despite the inning starting with two outs and nobody on base. Kaleb Hannahs (West Terre Haute, Ind. / West Vigo) clubbed a double to get things going, then Kyle Schmack (Wanatah, Ind. / South Central) lashed a run-scoring single and Ryan Maka (Oak Forest, Ill. / Oak Forest) followed with a two-bagger to score Schmack.
• Alabama went down quietly in the third but poured on four runs in the fourth before scoring two more in the fifth. The Crimson Tide added two tallies in the sixth before winning via the 10-run rule.

Inside the Game

• Valpo’s five hits came from five different players.
• Three of the five hits went for extra bases.
• Each of the top four players in the batting order had a hit.
• Schmack picked up his fifth RBI of the young season, while Maka recorded his second.

Up Next

Valpo (2-3) and the No. 17 Crimson Tide will continue the series on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will air on SEC Network+ with links to live video, audio and stats available on ValpoAthletics.com.