'Dons Beat Beacons in Extra-Inning Walk-Off

Wednesday, March 29

Fort Wayne, Ind.

3:30 PM

Purdue Fort Wayne

7-18

Valparaiso

3-22

Valparaiso

Purdue Fort Wayne

Photo by: Josh Gales

3/29/2023 7:14:00 PM | Softball

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FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Solid pitching and timely offense led Purdue Fort Wayne softball to its first win over the Valparaiso Beacons since 2015 on Wednesday afternoon (March 29).

It was a 4-3 game in favor of Valparaiso after five innings. It looked as though the Mastodons were going to be left with a loss, but they got back to the top of the order in the bottom of the seventh in which Taryn Jenkins doubled to left field to score Brayden Lickey. It was on to extras.

In the eighth, Valparaiso scored their placed runner with a single to right center. The Mastodons stranded two to get out of the jam. In the bottom of the eighth, the 'Dons managed to score Grace Hollopeter with a single from Tori Countryman to extend the game to nine.

The 'Dons did their job on defense, with Hollopeter catching a popped up bunt, Bailey Manos catching a runner at second from center field, then Gracie Brinkerhoff struck out the last Beacon batter of the day.

With the game-winning run placed on second, Brooke Lickey laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance her sister to third. Then Manos singled to second base on a two-strike slap hit to seal the Mastodons' win.

The Mastodons would not have had the chance to get the win without a pair of good pitching performances and some early offense. Alanah Jones had eight strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work, then Gracie Brinkerhoff went 4.0 innings and got the win without giving up an earned run. She had four strikeouts of her own. Their combined 12 strikeouts marked a season-best.

The Mastodons scored first in the first inning on a sac fly from Hollopeter. They opened up a 3-1 lead when Epiphany Hang hit a two-run homer to left field. Valpo took its lead after a three-run shot to left in the fifth.

Hollopeter finished 2-for-3 with a triple, a double and the first-inning sac fly for her RBI. Hang led the team with two RBIs on her two-run homer.

The 'Dons were 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position while limiting Valpo to 3-for-17. Purdue Fort Wayne also out-hit the Beacons 9-6.

Purdue Fort Wayne improves to 7-18 with the win and Valparaiso falls to 3-22. The Mastodons will be back at the Purdue Fort Wayne Softball Field on Friday at 3 p.m. with Detroit Mercy coming to town for Horizon League action.