Long after the final score of Sunday’s Valparaiso University baseball game against Butler is forgotten, Kevin Barry (Bartlett, Ill. / South Elgin) will remember his swing of the bat in the bottom of the ninth inning. It had been a long time coming for the Valpo redshirt freshman, who missed last season with an injury and got off to a slow start this season in a small sample size. Getting his first at-bat in a game Butler led 9-0, Barry belted his first collegiate home run down the right field line to get Valpo on the board in a 9-2 defeat.

How It Happened

• Butler built up a 6-0 lead in an opening inning that was highlighted by a Harrison Freed two-run homer.
• The Bulldogs (13-9) tacked on a run in the second and two in the fourth.
• The final five pitchers who saw action for Valpo were impressive on Sunday, combining for 5 2/3 scoreless innings. Tanner Skidmore (Timberville, Va. / Broadway [Potomac State]) helped right the ship for the Valpo pitching staff with 1 2/3 shutout innings, then Jim Jarecki (New Berlin, Wis. / Marquette [Heartland /Bradley]), James Meyer (Zionsville, Ind. / Zionsville Community), Keegan Bates (Plainfield, Ill. / Plainfield North) and Josh Currier (Mokena, Ill. / Lincoln Way Central) followed with one inning apiece of scoreless relief.
• Barry’s blast occurred with one out in the ninth when he came to the plate as a pinch hitter. Louie Baker (Gold Coast, Australia / Scottsdale CC) was along for the ride after drawing a base on balls in his lone plate appearance.

Up Next

Valpo (5-14) will begin a busy week of baseball on Tuesday in West Lafayette for a game that begins at 3 p.m. CT / 4 p.m. ET. Links to live coverage will be available on ValpoAthletics.com.