Valparaiso’s baseball team, the Beacons, is looking to end a rough patch. Currently, they’re on a six-game losing streak, three of which were heartbreakers decided by just one run. They’ll face Western Michigan on Tuesday at Emory G. Bauer Field. It’s the team’s first midweek home game of the season, following four away games.
Last weekend at UIC, the Beacons had some bright spots in pitching. Adam Guazzo delivered a strong performance on Friday, throwing 6 1/3 scoreless innings. Nick Baffa also shone on Sunday, pitching seven innings and giving up just one run. Despite these efforts, the bullpen faltered, allowing UIC to come back and win both games by close margins.
The Beacons will air Tuesday’s game on ESPN+, and fans can catch updates on social media.
Coach Brian Schmack is in his 13th season at Valpo. Under his guidance, the team has had its ups and downs but has remained competitive. Schmack has a backdrop in professional baseball, having pitched for the Detroit Tigers in 2003. Recently, he reached the milestone of coaching 500 games for the Beacons.
Historically, Valpo has a challenging record against Western Michigan. They stand at 16 wins and 37 losses against the Broncos. The last meeting was a nail-biter, with Valpo losing 5-4 on April 7.
Player Highlights:
- Eli Riley is a standout player, hitting safely in 20 consecutive games, the longest streak for Valpo since 2024.
- Colton Rerick, a freshman set to debut against Western Michigan, is known for his ambidextrous pitching and impressive high school accolades.
- The team has struggled in one-run games, sitting at 1-9 this season, which hints that close contests have often gone against them.
The Beacons’ struggles in low-scoring games are evident, as they have scored two runs or fewer in 12 games, losing each time. Meanwhile, they’ve secured every win when scoring first, which indicates a strong need to set the tone early in matches.
In Other News: Recently, the Beacons delivered a historic moment by executing a triple play, their first since 2015, showing they still have moments of brilliance amid their struggles.
As the Beacons prepare for a crucial matchup, fans will be watching closely to see if they can turn around their season and build momentum heading into future games.
