The Valparaiso University baseball team took the lead thanks to a clutch, go-ahead hit by Liam Patton (Barrington, Ill. / Warsaw [Wabash]) with two outs and two strikes in the top of the ninth, but host Jacksonville responded to Valpo’s three-run rally with two of their own in the bottom of the inning to walk off with a 6-5 victory in Tuesday’s midweek matchup in Jacksonville, Fla.

How It Happened

• Jacksonville picked up a run in the opening inning on a run-scoring double by Josh Steidl, then the Dolphins got two more in the second on a sac fly and an RBI double to make it 3-0.
• A bunt single and stolen base by Alex Ryan (Lake Mills, Wis. / Lakeside Lutheran) set him up to score on a double by Kevin Denty (Tinley Park, Ill. / Marian Catholic) to left center to get Valpo on the board in the top of the third.
• Valpo starter Kaleb Krier (Altoona, Iowa / Southeast Polk [DMACC]) exited after giving up three runs on five hits in three innings. Bryce Konitzer (Mukwonago, Wis. / Mukwonago [Oakland]) took over and tossed a scoreless fourth. The hosts picked up a run against him in the fifth on an RBI triple by Steidl that made it 4-1.
• Denty picked up another RBI in the top of the seventh when he singled up the middle, allowing Kyle Schmack (Wanatah, Ind. / South Central) to score from third.
• Valpo faced a 4-2 deficit through eight innings. Kaleb Hannahs (West Terre Haute, Ind. / West Vigo) led off the ninth with a single, then a one-out double by Denty put runners at second and third. The Dolphins recorded the second out of the inning and Valpo was down to its final out. Back-to-back walks including one to Carson Husmann (Hanna, Ind. / South Central [Bradley]) drove in a run to make it 4-3. With two outs and two strikes, Patton delivered a two-run, go-ahead single to put the Beacons in front 5-4.
• The Dolphins started the bottom of the ninth with three straight singles, the third of which saw Valpo put out a runner who was trying to go from first to third but allowed the tying run to score. Pitcher Jake Jakuboski (Lake in the Hills, Ill. / Huntley [Heartland]) induced a fly out for the second out.
• Clay Hodges hit a walk-off single to right to give Jacksonville the 6-5 win.

Inside the Game

• This marked Valpo’s second straight one-run loss after falling 3-2 vs. Binghamton on Sunday. Each of the team’s last three games have been decided by two runs or fewer.
• Denty delivered another big day, going 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, a walk and a run scored. He is hitting .348 in eight games as a freshman.
• Schmack posted a multi-hit game including a double, the 41^st of his collegiate career. He moved into a tie for seventh in program history in career doubles, joining Chris Moore (1998-2001) and Kevin Kutansky (2003-2006).
• Patton also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-5.
• Each team had a dozen hits, with Valpo’s total representing a season high.
• The Beacons worked a season-high eight walks while issuing just two.

Up Next

Valpo (4-7) will continue the spring trip by playing a three-game weekend series at The Citadel in Charleston, S.C. beginning on Friday at 3 p.m. CT.