The Valpo softball team jumped out to a 3-0 lead in its series finale at Evansville Sunday, but the host Purple Aces scored five unanswered runs to earn a 5-3 victory.

How It Happened

• Valpo got off to a quick start Sunday, as junior Peyton Moeder (Shawnee, Kan./Mill Valley) worked an eight-pitch walk to lead off the game and senior Addi Burke (Mesquite, Texas/John Horn) followed with a full-count homer to give the Brown and Gold a 2-0 lead two batters in.
• Evansville got a leadoff single in its half of the first, but Valpo starter Caitlin Kowalski (Temperance, Mich./Notre Dame Academy) proceeded to retire the next 10 batters she faced in a row.
• Valpo added to its lead in the top of the fourth. Freshman Alexis Johnson (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) used her speed to reach third on a leadoff error, and junior Taylor Tonoian (Saugus, Calif./Saugus) brought her home on a bunt to make it 3-0.
• The Purple Aces got a two-run homer from Marah Wood in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to 3-2.
• Evansville used three consecutive singles in the sixth inning to score a pair of runs and take the lead. Later in the frame, the Purple Aces got a sacrifice fly as well to push its advantage to 5-3.
• Consecutive walks with two outs in the top of the seventh put the potential tying runs on base for Valpo, but a strikeout ended the game.

Inside the Game

• Burke’s home run in the first inning was her first career long ball, coming in her 132^nd game in the Brown and Gold.
• Burke reached base Sunday in three of her four plate appearances, as she walked twice as well in addition to her round-tripper.
• Burke was the only Valpo player to reach multiple times on Sunday, as the Brown and Gold were limited to three hits and went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Valpo did draw five free passes.
• Kowalski went four-plus innings in the circle with the starting assignment, giving up two runs and striking out four.

Next Up

Valpo (5-15, 1-5 MVC) looks to take advantage of its first home games in nearly two full years next weekend, as it returns home to the Valpo Softball Complex for a three-game series against Indiana State. The series opens with a doubleheader at noon on Friday.