A day after defeating Elon ace and reigning Freshman All-American Justin Mitrovich on Friday, the Valparaiso University baseball team repeated its success against the Phoenix on Saturday, prevailing 7-5. Rain at Wake Forest led to a schedule change for this weekend’s event, and the Beacons took full advantage of the opportunity to once again face the Phoenix by finalizing a two-game sweep in Elon, N.C. against a team that won 33 games last season.

How It Happened

• It didn’t take long for Valpo to start the scoring as the Beacons struck first when Kyle Schmack (Wanatah, Ind. / South Central) ripped a solo shot to left in the opening inning. Later in the frame, Chase Maifield (Fox Lake, Ill. / Grant [Augustana]) grounded out to drive in a run and make it 2-0.
• Valpo added to the lead in the top of the fifth, when Kevin Denty (Tinley Park, Ill. / Marian Catholic) lifted a sacrifice fly to plate Alex Thurston (Fowler, Ind. / Benton Central).
• Valpo starting pitcher Josh Cottrill (Pewaukee, Wis. / Pewaukee) cruised through the first four innings without yielding a run. The only time the Phoenix did damage against him was in the bottom of the fifth, when a solo homer scored one and a ball that got by the catcher produced another to make it 3-2.
• The Beacons scored twice in the sixth, first as Maifield touched the dish when a throw to third on a stolen-base attempt got away, then as Kaleb Hannahs (West Terre Haute, Ind. / West Vigo) stroked a single to make it 5-2.
• The guests extended the edge to 7-2 in the seventh when Maifield lashed an RBI single that brought home a pair.  
• Elon got three back in the bottom of the inning on a three-run jack to cut the lead to two at 7-5.
• After two innings of relief from Grant Jablonski (Mishawaka, Ind. / Mishawaka), the Beacons went with Adam Guazzo (Huntley, Ill. / Huntley) to start the eighth inning. He flipped a flawless frame to keep the two-run lead intact. Denty doubled with one away in the top of the ninth, but a deep fly ball to center was eventually hauled in to end the inning and it stayed a two-run game.
• Guazzo got the first two outs of the bottom of the ninth but exited with two down and runners at the corners with the Beacons clinging to a 7-5 lead as Jake Jakubowski (Lake in the Hills, Ill. / Huntley [Heartland]) came on to try to nail down the 27^th out. He induced a foul out to secure his first save of the season.

Inside the Game

• Schmack’s home run was the 21^st of his collegiate career, moving him into a tie for ninth in program history. He joins Dan Schrum (1999-2002), Dale Polonus (1986-1988), Marc Boggio (1999-2003) and Sam Shaikin (2016-2019) in that deadlock.  
• Schmack enjoyed a multi-hit game, while Connor Giusti (Hoffman Estates, Ill. / Fremd [Wisconsin Oshkosh]) reached base three times with two hits and a walk.
• Cottrill yielded just two runs (one earned) on five hits while walking one and striking out three. He earned his second win of the season to improve to 2-1.
• Each team had eight hits, but Valpo batters worked seven walks while the pitching staff yielded only three.
• Denty continued to make an impact at the plate as the freshman doubled, walked twice and lifted a sacrifice fly while scoring two runs in the victory.

Up Next

Valpo (4-5) will play Binghamton on Sunday at 9 a.m. CT in Winston-Salem, N.C. to close out this weekend’s event hosted by Wake Forest.