Life in the Valley

Eight Teams Combine to Score 109 Runs on Regular Season’s Penultimate Day

In one of the wildest days in recent Missouri Valley Conference baseball memory, offenses around the conference blew up Friday, with the four games averaging 27.3 total runs as some answers became clear for the upcoming MVC Tournament, while others go into the final day Saturday.

Once mired in a long stretch when even getting base hits was a struggle, Valparaiso emphatically smashed its 21-game losing streak to the ground, downing Southern Illinois, 24-14, in 8 innings. The Beacons, who were no-hit on back-to-back weekends earlier this season, had 3 separate 5-run innings, then scored 7 in the 8th to end it – the conclusion coming when Kevin Denty doubled to score Kade Reinertson to give Valpo (9-40, 4-22) a 10-run edge.

Case Sullivan had a monster day for the Beacons, going 4-for-5 with 4 runs, 6 RBIs, a homer, and 2 doubles. And it could have been bigger. Sullivan also crushed a ball down the left-field line that went over the foul pole and was ruled foul by the umpires. Replays were inconclusive.

But Sullivan had plenty of help. Denty went 4-for-6 with 2 runs and 3 RBIs; Thomas Cooper scored 4 times, Connor Giusti had 3 runs, 3 hits, and 3 RBIs, and Spencer Warfield homered and drove in 4. His 3-run homer in the 5th gave the Beacons the lead for good at 17-14.

Remarkably, Valpo starter Connor Lockwood got the win. Despite an offensive barrage from the Southern Illinois (37-17, 16-10), Lockwood gutted out 5 innings on 97 pitches, striking out 5. He gave up 14 runs on 14 hits, but Warfield’s homer put Lockwood in line for the win. Lucas Foley worked the final 3 innings, allowing just 1 hit and 0 runs to earn the save. Foley was masterful, getting 9 outs on just 37 pitches.

SIU hit 5 homers in the loss. John Lemm homered and doubled, driving in 3. Jaxon Holder also had 3 RBIs.

UIC Dusts Belmont: In a bizarre scene in Chicago, UIC took a run-rule win over Belmont, 21-10, as the game finished in a 7th-inning dust storm. The conditions were so bad, when Bruins leadoff hitter Michael Lareau launched a ball toward center field, almost no one, not even Lareau, knew where it went. It turned out to be a home run, but Lareau briefly stopped at 2nd base before being assured he could score.

That turned out to be the final act in a game the Flames (19-31, 15-11) put away with a 9-run 6th inning that blew open what had been a 12-9 contest. Vidal Colon hit a 3-run homer in the uprising. Terrick Thompson-Allen finished the game a double short of the cycle, going 4-for-5 with 4 runs, 5 RBIs, and 2 homers. Thomas Curry also had 4 hits for UIC, scoring 4 runs. James Harris scored 4 times, as well.

Belmont’s Landon Godsey homered and scored 3 times. Lareau drove in 3.

Purple Aces Will Battle to the Final Day: Evansville (17-36, 10-16) staved off elimination from the MVC Tournament with a 12-8 victory over Bradley on Friday. The Purple Aces scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 5th to take an 8-7 lead, then added 4 more runs in the 7th for insurance. Matt Flaherty hit a 3-run homer in the 5th and added an RBI single in the 7th, finishing 5-for-5 with 3 runs and 5 RBIs. Cal McGinnis homered and drove in 3. Drew McConnell also homered.

Cole Smith, Mason Breidenbach, and Timmy O’Brien all homered for Bradley (15-34, 11-15). Bradley and Evansville meet Saturday with the winner getting the 8th and final spot in the Valley Tournament. The loser’s season will be over.

Sycamores Clinch Tourney Bid: Indiana State left no doubt about its postseason plans, hammering Illinois State, 17-3, to clinch a berth in the MVC Tournament. The Sycamores (24-29, 12-14) scored in all but 1 inning, plating 10 in the 6th to put the game away. Nick Sutherlin homered twice for the Sycamores, blasting a solo shot in the 3rd inning and a grand slam in the 6th. He finished the game with 6 RBIs. Weston Fulk homered, went 4-for-5, scored twice, and drove in 3 runs. Carter Beck had 3 hits, 3 runs, and 3 RBIs.

Jack Armstrong pitched 2 innings of scoreless relief to get the win, allowing 1 hit. Armstrong is 3-0 this season. Judah Morris homered for Illinois State (26-26, 14-12).

Today on Valley Diamonds: Also notable from Friday was the game that wasn’t played. Missouri State at Murray State was rained out, setting up a doubleheader today. The Racers need 1 win to earn the #1 seed in the Valley Tournament. The Bears can get the top spot with a sweep.

Here’s what else is in play today:

• Battle for 4th: UIC finishes 4th with a win over Belmont. Illinois State takes the spot with a win and a UIC loss.
• Battle for 8th: Evansville and Bradley meet today and the winner is in the MVC Tournament. The loser is out. But, Bradley could also win and take the #7 seed if Indiana State loses. UE is the #8 seed if it gets in.
• So, What Do We Know?: SIU is going to finish as the #3 seed. They can tie for 2nd in the final standings, but lose tiebreakers to both Murray State and Missouri State. Belmont will finish 6th. Valparaiso will end up 10th and host its season-finale today vs. SIU.

Ed Morgans is the founder of MVCBaseball.com. An Evansville graduate, Ed has written about and broadcast college baseball, while following the sport for 40 years.