March 08, 2020123456789RHE
Valparaiso000000000046
Georgia Southern00430032X12131
PitchingIPHRERBBSO
Win: David Johnson (2-1) 5.230026
Loss: Fields (0-4) 3.267624
BattingABRHRBIBBHR
Fitzsimmons (VALPO) 302000
Christian Avant (GS) 523301
BoxscorePlay-by-Play
Valpo Falls in Game 3 at Georgia Southern
Sunday, March 8, 2020
Valpo Falls in Game 3 at Georgia Southern
Riley Dent recorded his team-leading 14th hit of the season on Sunday.

In the final matchup of a three-game set, the Valparaiso University baseball team dropped a 12-0 decision to host Georgia Southern. Senior Steven Fitzsimmons (Golden Valley, Minn./ Robbinsdale Cooper) recorded his first extra-base hit of the year during a multi-hit game. 

How It Happened

  • Freshman second baseman Nolan Tucker (Cedar Lake, Ind./ Hanover Central) started the Valpo offense off on the right foot, smacking a leadoff double to right center in the top of the first. Tucker was bunted over to third but was stranded there after Eagles starter David Johnson struck out the next two batters.  
  • Valpo again threatened in the third inning when Fitzsimmons sent the first pitch he saw to right and hustled around for a triple. After a Tucker walk, Valpo had runners on the corners with just one out, but was unable to scratch across a run.
  • With a strikeout to begin the home-half of the third, Valpo starter Colin Fields (Libertyville, Ill./ Libertyville) had retired the first seven Eagles batters of the day, including three strikeouts. However, after two singles and an error loaded the bases, Georgia Southern outfielder Mason McWhorter launched a grand slam to give the hosts a 4-0 lead they would never relinquish.
  • The Eagles played small-ball in the fourth, using two walks, a steal and a bunt to set up a McWhorter three-run double to make it 7-0.
  • The Eagles would tag on five more runs — only two of which were earned runs — before the game’s end. Valpo managed just one hit off the Eagles’ bullpen after Johnson departed in the sixth.

Inside the Game

  • After a 2-for-3 showing, Fitzsimmons raised his season’s batting average by over 50 points.
  • Riley Dent (Long Beach, Calif./ Wilson) recorded his team-leading 16th hit of the year in his 14th game.
  • Georgia Southern’s quality pitching staff permitted just one run in the series.

Up Next

Valpo will look to get back in the win column when the team opens up a two-game midweek set at Alabama State on Tuesday. Links to live stats and coverage are available on ValpoAthletics.com