Given Devin Bafia was on the mound for Valparaiso in Game 1 of the Regional, we were sure the game would be low scoring throughout; however, Penn had other plans. Penn got on the board in the 2nd inning from a fielder error and a single by Senior Kyle Richard.

 

Penn Senior Tyler Thompson (2012) kept throwing up goose eggs in the bottom halves of innings, controlling the zone with his mid 80's fastball and over-the-top curveball. Penn would do damage in the 3rd, scoring four runs off the bats of Junior Chad Whtimer (single), and Seniors Jordan Gosztola (single) and Kyle Richard (single). After 2 1/2, it was 6-0 Penn.

 

Valpo would answer in the bottom half of the 3rd, scoring 2 runs off no hits and two Penn errors. That was all the damage they would do on Thompson, as he rolled through the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings.

 

Penn on the other had would score three runs in the fifth, after back-to-back-to-back singles from Jordan Gosztola (2012), Kyle Richard (2012), Chad Gindelbeger (2012) and a double by Senior David Spalding (2012). Soon after the Spalding double, Valpo Coach Dave Coyle would replace Junior Devin Bafia. Bafia did give up 11 hits over 4 1/3 innings, but only allowed three earned runs, as Valpo would commit five errors in the game.

 

With the score 8-2, Penn tacked on 6 runs in the seventh from Reed Hostelter (2012), Junior Steven Smallwood (triple), Whitmer (2013), Gosztola (2012), Richard (2012), Gindelbeger (2012), and Spalding (2012). With the game at 14-2, and Thompson, not throwing the 7th, Valpo would add three runs from Stephen Simms (2013) and Ethan Lehnen (2012),

 

Final: Penn 14 - Valpo 5