Drake scored in each of the first four innings as the Valpo softball team dropped its series finale to the visiting Bulldogs on Sunday, 8-0.

How It Happened

• Drake took the lead with a pair of two-out runs in the top of the first.
• Valpo put a pair of runners on base in its first turn at the plate, as fifth-year Taylor Herschbach (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) knocked the first pitch she saw up the middle for a one-out single. Herschbach later stole second before freshman Kim Rodas (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon) drew a walk, but the duo was stranded.
• The Bulldogs pulled away with three runs in the second and added another in the third to push the lead to 6-0.
• Herschbach reached scoring position for the second time in the bottom of the third, drawing a four-pitch walk and moving up to second on a groundout before being left on base.
• Drake plated two more runs in the fourth for the final margin in the run-rule decision.

Inside the Game

• Herschbach extended her on-base streak to 10 consecutive games with her first-inning single, lengthening her career best and a Valpo season best. She is just one game shy of matching the program’s longest on-base streak over the last four seasons.
• Senior Lauren Kehlenbrink (Ballwin, Mo./Parkway South) picked up Valpo’s other hit on the day with a second-inning single, as the Beacons were limited to two base knocks on Sunday.
• Junior Kayla Skapyak (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) drew a walk to add to the free passes drawn by Herschbach and Rodas.
• Senior Easton Seib (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs South) started and took the loss, going 2+ innings. Freshman Cadence Augustine (Beaverton, Mich./Beaverton) had the best pitching appearance of her young collegiate career, striking out one in two shutout innings while giving up just one hit and one walk.

Next Up

Valpo (8-33, 4-16 MVC) plays its final four road games of the regular season next week, starting with a Tuesday evening showdown at UIC at 5 p.m. With a win, the Beacons would sweep the three-game season series from the Flames.