The Valparaiso University baseball team jumped out to an early 3-0 lead thanks in part to home runs by Alex Ryan (Lake Mills, Wis. / Lakeside Lutheran) and Brady Renfro (Antigo, Wis. / Antigo) in their return to their home state, but host Milwaukee scored seven unanswered to win 7-3 at Franklin Field in Franklin, Wis. on Tuesday. Valpo outhit Milwaukee 11-7 and six of the team’s 11 hits went for extra bases.

How It Happened

• Valpo grabbed an early lead in the opening inning thanks to two extra-base hits. After a Ryan Maka (Oak Forest, Ill. / Oak Forest) double, Renfro yanked one over the right-field wall in his first plate appearance back in his home state, making it 2-0 Beacons.
• Valpo starter Trent Turzenski (Burlington, Wis. / Burlington) retired the side in order in the bottom of the first with help from Ryan, who made a sprawling catch in right center on the first pitch of the frame to take an extra-base hit away from the Panthers.
• Wisconsin natives continued to shine in their home state when Ryan ripped a solo shot to left to lead off the second inning, extending the Valpo lead to 3-0. Valpo had the bases loaded with a chance for more in that inning – which included a triple by Alex Thurston (Fowler, Ind. / Benton Central) – but the Beacons did no further damage.
• Turzenski retired all six batters over the first two innings and had two outs with only one on in the third after both outs came via the strikeout. However, the top of the Panther lineup put together a two-out rally the second time through the order, highlighted by a go-ahead three-run homer by Carson Hansen that made it 5-3 and polished off a five-run frame.
• The first two Beacons reached base in the fourth, but after a pitching change, three straight were retired to end the inning with Milwaukee still in front
• Valpo went to the bullpen for the bottom of the fourth, and Grant Jablonski (Mishawaka, Ind. / Mishawaka) worked a 1-2-3 capped by a strikeout to keep the deficit at two.
• The Panthers added two runs in the sixth but Jake Jakubowski (Lake in the Hills, Ill. / Huntley [Heartland]) entered the game and limited the damage. He induced an inning-ending double play to keep the deficit at four as Milwaukee led 7-3 through six.
• Valpo inserted Joe Seiber (Homer Glen, Ill. / Lockport [College of DuPage]) to pitch the bottom of the seventh and he worked a scoreless frame to keep it 7-3. Valpo threatened in the top of the eighth, but stranded two in scoring position, and eventually the 7-3 score stood as the game’s final. Seiber did not allow a run in his two frames.

Inside the Game

• Renfro’s home run was his second of the season and the 17^th of his collegiate career.
• Ryan’s home run was his fourth this season and the seventh of his career.
• Turzenski made his first start in over two years as he started on the bump for the first time since April 1, 2022. His first seven appearances this year came in relief after he missed over a calendar year due to Tommy John surgery.
• When Kyle Schmack (Wanatah, Ind. / South Central) drew a walk in the second inning, he increased his career total to 91, moving into a tie for sixth in program history in career walks. He also swiped second after walking, improving to 8-for-8 on stolen base attempts this season and lifting his career stolen base total to 30.
• Thurston’s triple was his first of the season and just the third by the team. It marked Valpo’s first triple since March 8 at The Citadel. Thurston now has seven triples in his four-year career with the Beacons including at least one in each season.
• Schmack’s single was his 199^th collegiate hit, one away from reaching the 200-hit milestone for his career.
• Valpo dropped to 7-3 this season when outhitting the opponent as the Beacons held an 11-7 edge in the hit column but came out on the wrong end of the column that counts. Six of Valpo’s 11 hits went for extra bases.
• Ryan and Carson Husmann (Hanna, Ind. / South Central [Bradley]) had two hits apiece.

Up Next

Valpo (10-20) will host Belmont to start a three-game weekend series on Friday at 3 p.m. at Emory G. Bauer Field. The game will air on ESPN+ with links to live video and stats available on ValpoAthletics.com.