The Valpo softball offense enjoyed its most prolific output of the young season on Sunday afternoon to close its weekend in Madeira Beach, Fla., but it wouldn’t be enough to come away with a victory, as a three-run sixth-inning double by Oakland proved to be the difference as the Golden Grizzlies downed the Beacons, 9-7.

How It Happened

• Batting as the visiting team, the Golden Grizzlies jumped on top in the top of the first inning on a two-out, three-run double to take an early 3-0 lead.
• The Beacons came right back with three runs in their first turn at the plate. Fifth-year Taylor Herschbach (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) brought home two of those runs with a two-run double and then scored the equalizing run on an Oakland error.
• Consecutive two-out RBI doubles from Oakland in the top of the second put the Golden Grizzlies back on top, 5-3.
• Valpo again responded, this time with three runs in the bottom of the second to take the lead. With two on and one out, junior Kayla Skapyak (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) turned on a pitch for an RBI single into right field, plating senior Lauren Kehlenbrink (Ballwin, Mo./Parkway South).
• Skapyak then stole second with freshman Lyna Vasquez (Moreno Valley, Calif./Valley View) on third, an extra 60 feet which turned out to be crucial. There was still just one out as freshman Lexi Szostak (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park) laid down a squeeze bunt which the Oakland third baseman threw into her back, which allowed both Vasquez and Skapyak to cross the plate and give Valpo a 6-5 lead.
• Oakland equalized with an RBI single in the top of the third.
• The Beacons regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Herschbach drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on an RBI double by freshman Kim Rodas (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon). Later in the inning, Valpo had two runners on with still nobody out, but a strikeout and a double play prevented it from adding to the one-run lead.
• Oakland took advantage of the deficit being just one run in the top of the sixth, connecting on a two-out, two-strike, three-run double to cap the scoring. Valpo had a runner reach on an error in the sixth and a leadoff single from junior Emily Crompton (Salem, Ill./Christ Our Rock Lutheran) in the seventh, but neither would come around to score.

Inside the Game

• Valpo’s seven-run output on Sunday was its highest-scoring game of the season.
• Skapyak led the offense as she went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. It was the first three-hit game of the junior’s career and the second time she has scored multiple runs in a game.
• Herschbach also reached base on three trips to the plate Sunday, combining her two-run double with a pair of walks. She scored a pair of runs as well.
• In addition to her run-scoring double, Rodas drew a walk as well to reach base twice.
• While the Beacons put seven runs on the board on Sunday, they were just 3-for-12 at the plate with runners in scoring position.
• Eight of Oakland’s nine runs scored with two outs.

Next Up

Valpo (1-9) heads to Louisville, Ky. next weekend, where the Beacons will play three games against Eastern Illinois and a pair against host Bellarmine.