April 03, 2023123456789RHE
Murray State010001000251
Valparaiso00010220X581
PitchingIPHRERBBSO
Win: Nowak (3-0) 6.042219
Loss: Lyke (0-2) 1.133321
BattingABRHRBIBBHR
Sammons (MUR) 412000
Tucker (VALPO) 421000
Schmack (VALPO) 311210
Renfro (VALPO) 401000
Olive (VALPO) 201310
Maka (VALPO) 301010
Warfield (VALPO) 401000
Reinertson (VALPO) 201010
Nowicki (VALPO) 411000
BoxscorePlay-by-Play
Nowak, Chasey Help Pitch Valpo Past Murray State
Monday, April 3, 2023
Nowak, Chasey Help Pitch Valpo Past Murray State
Bobby Nowak earned his third win of the season on Monday.

The Valparaiso University baseball team enjoyed a strong day on the mound from pitchers Bobby Nowak (Cedar Lake, Ind. / Hanover Central [Kankakee]) and Nathan Chasey (Ames, Iowa / Gilbert [Indian Hills CC]), while the offense got clutch hits from Matt Olive (Minneapolis, Minn. / Blake School) and Kyle Schmack (Wanatah, Ind. / South Central) in a 5-2 victory over Murray State at Emory G. Bauer Field on Monday.  

How It Happened

  • Nowak started the day with a 1-2-3 opening inning, but Murray State got on the board when Taylor Howell ripped a solo shot down the left-field line in the second.
  • Nowak struck out six straight batters, striking out the side in both the fourth and fifth frames.
  • The Beacons manufactured a run in the fourth, when Nolan Tucker (Cedar Lake, Ind. / Hanover Central) stroked a leadoff single, went to third on a Brady Renfro (Antigo, Wis. / Antigo) base knock and crossed the dish on an Olive sacrifice fly to make it 1-1.
  • Murray State regained the lead but settled for one run while stranding two in the top of the sixth.
  • Valpo went right back in front in the bottom of the inning, when Olive ripped a two-run single to make it 3-2.
  • Chasey entered the game on the mound and put up a zero in the top of the seventh, then Schmack came through with a two-out single to right center to drive in a pair in the bottom of the seventh, expanding the lead to 5-2.
  • Chasey induced a double play to work around an error in the top of the eighth, then eventually heaved another zero in the ninth to preserve the triumph.

Inside the Game

  • Nowak’s nine strikeouts surpassed his previous career high of seven, which came in his last outing on March 28 vs. Milwaukee.
  • This marked the first start of Nowak’s Valpo career as his previous 25 appearances came out of the bullpen.
  • Nowak, who went six innings and allowed two runs on four hits while walking one and striking out nine, earned the win to improve to 3-0.
  • Chasey logged three scoreless innings while permitting just one hit to nail down his second save this season and the third of his career.
  • Over his last four outings, Nowak has thrown 11 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on five hits while striking out 18.
  • No Valpo player had a multi-hit output, but eight different Beacons lashed out a base hit.
  • Schmack’s two RBIs lifted his season total to a team-high 20, while Olive drove in three to bring his RBI total to five in just nine games.
  • Brady Nowicki (Big Bend, Wis. / Mukwonago [Indian Hills CC]) made his season debut after missing time due to an injury. He got the start at third base.
  • Valpo’s only extra-base knock of the day was a double by Kade Reinertson (Huxley, Iowa / Ballard Community).
  • Renfro extended his on-base streak to 21, becoming the first Valpo player with an on-base streak of more than 20 games since Sam Shaikin’s 23 gamer in 2017.

Up Next

Valpo (9-12, 1-5 MVC) and Milwaukee will face off at 3 p.m. on Tuesday in Franklin, Wis. The game will air on ESPN+.