The Valparaiso University baseball team fell 6-0 to host Illinois State in Sunday’s series finale in Normal, Ill. Bryce Konitzer (Mukwonago, Wis. / Mukwonago [Oakland]) did not allow a run over his three innings of relief, providing a bright spot for the Beacons. The game was played after a long rain delay on a windy, cold and wet day in Central Illinois.

How It Happened

• An unearned run for Illinois State started the scoring in the bottom of the first. The Redbirds plated a run on a safety squeeze after that runner had reached on an error.
• A two-run double in the second allowed the Redbirds to expand the lead to 3-0.
• A one-out double by Kaleb Hannahs (West Terre Haute, Ind. / West Vigo) in the third set up a second-and-third, one-out chance, but Illinois State got back-to-back strikeouts to retire the side.
• Reliever Jake Jakubowski (Lake in the Hills, Ill. / Huntley [Heartland]) was summoned with the bases loaded and two down in the third. He notched a looking strikeout to retire the side and keep the deficit at three.
• Illinois State added two runs in the fourth on a two-run, two-out single to expand the lead to 5-0. They tacked on another thanks to a two-out uprising in the fifth to make it 6-0.
• The Beacons went back to the bullpen in the bottom of the sixth and Konitzer came in to send down the side in order. Konitzer continued to pitch well over the next two frames, and did not permit a run or a walk over his three innings while yielding three hits.
• The Illinois State bullpen did not allow a run or a hit over its three frames and the Redbirds held on for the win.

Inside the Game

• Illinois State pitching held the Beacon bats in check as Valpo’s two hits tied for a season low with the game at No. 7 Vanderbilt.
• Hannahs doubled for Valpo’s second extra-base hit of the series and Connor Giusti (Hoffman Estates, Ill. / Fremd [Wisconsin Oshkosh]) singled to account for the team’s work in the hit column.
• Valpo was shut out for the first time this season and the first time since May 25, 2022, an 8-0 loss to Indiana State in the MVC Tournament in Springfield.

Up Next

Valpo (10-19, 2-7 MVC) will visit Milwaukee for a midweek matchup on Tuesday at 3 p.m. in Franklin, Wis. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with links to live video and stats available on ValpoAthletics.com.