The Valparaiso University softball team came up just short in Missouri Valley Conference action Wednesday afternoon at the Valpo Softball Complex, falling to Loyola by a 2-1 final. Game two of the scheduled doubleheader was postponed due to weather.

How It Happened

• Scoring chances were virtually nonexistent early on, as neither team even advanced a runner into scoring position in the first five innings. Singles from freshman Addi Burke (Mesquite, Texas/John Horn) and sophomore Morgan Matalin (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) accounted for the Crusaders’ lone baserunners over that stretch.
• Meanwhile, Crusader pitcher Kenzie Grossmann (Perry, Mo./Mark Twain [Morehead State]) was matching her Loyola counterpart, Kiley Jones, pitch for pitch. Grossmann surrendered just one hit over the first five frames – an infield single with two outs in the fourth.
• The sixth inning proved to be the decisive frame. With a runner on and one out, Loyola’s Sophia Swain delivered a two-run homer just inside the left-field foul pole to give the Ramblers a 2-0 advantage.
• Valpo pushed back in the bottom of the inning. With two on and one out, fifth-year senior Taylor Lawson (Tucson, Ariz./Sahuaro) lined a single into left-center to score senior Lanie Callaghan (Elburn, Ill./Kaneland) and cut the deficit in half.
• The Crusaders continued to threaten, loading the bases with two outs as the potential tying and go-ahead runs were in scoring position. But a pop-up ended the Valpo threat in the sixth, and the Crusaders went down in order in the seventh.

Inside the Game

• Grossmann was charged with the loss despite giving up just two runs on two hits in her six innings of work. The senior has surrendered two or fewer earned runs in eight of her nine losses this season.
• Wednesday was just the second time this season the Crusaders have lost a game despite out-hitting their opponent (11-2).
• Freshman Brittany Anderson (East Chicago, Ind./Bishop Noll) made just her second start of the year at first base – and first since the opening weekend of play – and registered 14 putouts.

Next Up

Valpo (17-19, 4-10 MVC) continues play at home on Saturday, as the Crusaders welcome Evansville to the Valpo Softball Complex for a noon doubleheader. Saturday will be the program’s annual Be the Match Drive, as the program encourages all fans to join the National Marrow Registry that day.