The Valparaiso University baseball team had plenty of action on the base paths early in Friday’s series opener against Belmont, but the Beacons did not crack the hit column until Carson Husmann (Hannah, Ind. / South Central [Bradley]) lifted a solo homer in the seventh in a 9-2 defeat at Emory G. Bauer Field on Friday. The Beacon batters showed plenty of patience at the plate against Belmont’s Will Pryor as he issued nine walks and hit a batter over three innings, but could not cash in on those chances on a rainy and miserable afternoon where the wind was howling out to right field.

How It Happened

• Valpo scored the game’s first run without the benefit of a hit in the bottom of the first as Alex Ryan (Lake Mills, Wis. / Lakeside Lutheran) worked a bases-loaded walk.
• Starting pitcher Kaleb Krier (Altoona, Iowa / Southeast Polk [DMACC]) sent down the side in order in the second to keep Valpo in front. The Beacons benefited from an error and two walks in the bottom of the inning, but did not score.
• Belmont took the lead on a two-run homer to right in the top of the third, Krier’s final inning of work.
• The Bruins added two in the fourth – one on a passed ball and one on a wild pitch to make it 4-1. Two walks started Valpo’s bottom of the fourth and chased the Belmont starting pitcher from the game, but the Bruin reliever immediately induced a double play before an inning-ending strikeout.
• The guests broke it open in the fifth with five runs including a grand slam to dead center to make it 9-1.
• Husmann homered in the seventh before a single by Brady Renfro (Antigo, Wis. / Antigo). Those stood as Valpo’s two hits.

Inside the Game

• The 11 walks were the team’s second highest total of the season and highest since March 15 at Campbell. Valpo has lost both games where the Beacons have drawn double-figure walks.
• Husmann’s homer was his third of the season and his first since March 8 at The Citadel, when he homered in both games of a doubleheader. This was his 23^rd career home run including his four seasons at Bradley.
• After the first two Valpo pitchers gave up nine runs, the rest of the staff pitched well. Josh Spencer (Woodinville, Wash. / Woodinville [Tacoma]) made his second appearance of the season and first since March 17 at Campbell and heaved two scoreless innings. Bennett Musser (Round Lake, Ill. / Mundelein]) followed with his fourth collegiate outing and put a zero on the board in the top of the ninth.
• Ryan and Kyle Schmack (Wannatah, Ind. / South Central) worked three walks apiece. Schmack boosted his career walk total to 94, moving into sole possession of sixth in program history.

Up Next

Valpo (10-21, 2-8 MVC) will attempt to bounce back in the middle game of the series against Belmont on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Emory G. Bauer Field. The game will air on ESPN+.