The Redhawks baseball team swept the Valparaiso Beacons in a three-game series on Mar. 13 at Capaha Field.

Senior pitcher Jason Rackers started on the mound for the Redhawks in game one of the series on Saturday. The Beacons quickly got on the board with a run in the top of the first to make it 1-0; that would be the only run they would get for the game. Senior infielder Tyler Wilber would respond with a sacrifice groundout to tie the game and soon after junior Andrew Keck would hit an RBI single to make it 2-1.

The Redhawks would extend their lead more throughout the course of the game with both junior Joel Vaske and junior Jevon Mason collecting RBIs to make it a 4-1 ballgame. The scoring was not done for the Redhawks as sophomore Peyton Leeper hit a grand slam to increase the lead to 8-1.

Freshman Alex Eskers would come to the mound at the top of the ninth to close out the game to give the Redhawks the game one victory.

The Redhawks gave junior Noah Niznik the ball for game two of the series. The game started off strong for the Beacons as they collected two runs in the first inning. The lead would not last long as sophomore infielder Ben Palmer hit a single to right field, but multiple throwing errors would cost the Beacons the lead as two runs would come home.

The Beacons would collect three runs in the third inning to make it a 5-2 ballgame and retake the lead. The Redhawks would collect a run in the following at-bat, but they would score six runs in the fourth inning with Leeper, Wilber, and sophomore Lincoln Andrews all hitting home runs. Vaske would hit an RBI single to make it 9-6 for the Redhawks.

The Redhawks never stopped from there and would go on to win the game 16-6 and take the series win.

Game three of the series saw junior Tommy Windt start on the mound. The Beacons would get a three-run start to start off the game; but the Redhawks would respond with three two-run-home runs in the third inning hit by Mason, Wilber, and junior outfielder Brett Graber to make it 6-3.

The game would be tied going into the eighth inning with the Beacons threatening to take a late lead, but sophomore Kyle Miller would shut them down. Mason would hit a double to get into scoring position with one out in the eighth, but he would be sent home as Leeper would hit a two-run home run to give the Redhawks the late lead.

The Redhawks would go on to win the game and sweep Valparaiso to improve to 13-1 on the season to extend their winning streak to 11 games.

Head coach Andy Sawyers was proud of how the team was performing so far this season.

“I’m really proud of our kids.” Sawyers said. “I think we’re competing very well.”

The Redhawks will travel to Terre Haute, Indiana to take on Indiana State on Tuesday, March 15.