Valparaiso University’s baseball squad saw its 2026 campaign close with a 13‑3 defeat to Southern Illinois in Carbondale, Illinois, a game that also served as the final collegiate appearance for sixteen seniors.
A Late Surge by the Salukis
Southern Illinois seized control early, plating three runs in the bottom of the eighth to invoke the run‑rule mercy and seal the victory.
The Beacons had started strong, with Thomas Cooper delivering a two‑run double in the opening frame, but the momentum shifted as the Salukis built a lead that the visitors could not overcome.
Hunter Frost, in what marked his last collegiate outing, tossed a scoreless fourth inning, while Christian Hack followed with a fifth‑inning effort that erased a leadoff single. Joe Seiber induced an inning‑ending double play in the sixth, and Cal Schembra added an RBI via a fielder’s‑choice bouncer in the seventh.
Spencer Boynton capped the frame by striking out three consecutive batters, but the rally fell short as Southern Illinois added three more runs to close the game.
The top four hitters in Valpo’s lineup combined for seven of the team’s eight hits, and senior Cal Schembra’s .330 average edged out teammate Kuska’s .327, marking the highest team batting average since the 2022 season.
All six relief pitchers who took the mound were seniors, underscoring a generational transition for the program as it looks to rebuild around younger talent.