The Valpo softball team opened its final series of the regular season on Friday afternoon at the Valpo Softball Complex, falling 7-0 to visiting Indiana State.

How It Happened

• Indiana State claimed the lead in its first turn at the plate with a two-run homer.
• Valpo’s best shot at cracking the scoreboard came in the bottom of the first. Fifth-year Taylor Herschbach (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) led off with a line shot off the third baseman’s glove for an infield single, and later in the inning, senior Lauren Kehlenbrink (Ballwin, Mo./Parkway South) knocked a single up the middle. Kehlenbrink stole second to put two runners into scoring position, but a groundout ended the threat.
• The Sycamores scored three in the top of the second to extend their lead to 5-0.
• Valpo got a leadoff single from freshman Lexi Szostak (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park) in the third and a one-out double from Kehlenbrink in the fourth, but was unable to convert either into runs.
• Indiana State capped the scoring with a single tally apiece in the fourth and fifth innings. Following the latter run, junior Caitlyn Kowalski (Temperance, Mich./Notre Dame Academy) retired the final eight Sycamore batters she faced in order.

Inside the Game

• Kehlenbrink’s multi-hit game was her eighth of the season, tying her for team-high honors.
• Junior Regi Hecker (Lee’s Summit, Mo./Blue Springs South) tallied another outfield assist Friday, pegging a runner down at third from center field. She has registered seven outfield assists on the season, most on the team.
• Herschbach’s first-inning single improved her on-base clip when leading off an inning this season to a team-best .467.
• Kowalski tossed her fifth complete game of the season in the circle.

Next Up

Valpo (8-38, 4-21 MVC) continues the series with the Sycamores on Saturday afternoon with a 2 p.m. first pitch from the Valpo Softball Complex. Saturday is the program’s Senior Day, with a ceremony to honor the members of the senior class prior to the game at 1:40 p.m.