The Valpo softball team jumped on top of Kansas City early Sunday in its tournament finale at The Dome in Rosemont, Ill. courtesy of Brittany Anderson’s (East Chicago, Ind./Bishop Noll) second home run in as many days, but the Roos came back to earn a 10-2 victory.

How It Happened

• Junior Peyton Moeder (Shawnee, Kan./Mill Valley) continued her strong weekend by leading off the game with a bunt single. Three batters later, Anderson sent a deep fly to left that the left fielder was able to get a glove on, but her momentum carried her into the wall, causing the ball to pop up and over the barrier for a round-tripper for Anderson to give Valpo a 2-0 lead.
• Kansas City was able to tie the score at 2-2 in its first turn at bat on a wild pitch and subsequent Valpo error.
• Valpo looked like it would have a strong opportunity to regain the lead in the top of the third with back-to-back singles to lead off the frame, but the Roos were able to get both Valpo runners into rundowns for an unconventional double play.
• Kansas City took the lead in the bottom of the third on a run-scoring double and added another tally in the fourth on a bases-loaded walk. The Roos still had the bases loaded with one out in the fourth looking to add to their 4-2 lead, but Taylor Knight (Omaha, Neb./Elkhorn South) induced back-to-back groundouts to short to keep it a two-run game.
• Kansas City ended the game with six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Inside the Game

• Anderson’s homer in the first inning was her second in as many days and was the seventh of her career in the Brown and Gold.
• Anderson walked in her only other plate appearance Sunday and reached base six times in 11 plate appearances over Valpo’s first four games.
• Moeder picked up a pair of hits on Sunday and finished the weekend with a team-best .417 batting average.
• Junior Kate Beckemeyer (Forsyth, Ill./Maroa-Forsyth [Parkland]) tallied a hit on Sunday and finished the weekend hitting .300, while junior Taylor Herschbach (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) also recorded a hit Sunday versus the Roos.
• Freshman Caitlyn Kowalski (Temperance, Mich./Notre Dame Academy) started in the circle and threw the first two innings, striking out two and surrendering just one earned run. Fellow rookie Madison Wathen (Floyds Knobs, Ind./Floyd Central) was charged with the loss.

Thoughts on the Weekend from Coach Stake

“First and foremost, we are grateful for the opportunity to be playing amidst a pandemic. Plenty did not go our way this weekend, but all of us appreciate the opportunity to get on the field and to compete again. Our players have gone through a lot over the past 11 months, and so I think it’s important to step outside of the results to recognize we are blessed to be playing softball together again.”

“I’m pleased with Caitlyn’s performance against WIU and her one-hitter. I was not surprised to see her step into the first game and throw well. She’s shown us what she’s capable of for months and it was great to see her go out and do it against someone wearing a different jersey.”

“I am very proud of our seniors on opening weekend; both Addi and Britt played big and confidently. It certainly was an encouraging start for those two. Since volleyball didn’t play this fall, it’s the first time we’ve had Britt practicing with us full-time, and I think that extra time has really benefited her development this year.”

“Lauren had a good weekend behind the plate. Our catchers — Lauren, Maddie and T — are working so hard and have seen a good deal of improvement. I’m happy with the degree of ownership they’re taking on this season.”

Next Up

Valpo (1-3) will take next weekend off from competition before returning to action in Nashville the weekend of Feb. 27.