Valparaiso University Sports Update, March 20, 2017

By: Valparaiso University Last Updated: March 20, 2017

VU-Crusaders-Drop-Both-Games-of-Twin-Bill-at-Wright-StateCrusaders Drop Both Games of Twin Bill at Wright State
The Valparaiso University baseball team dropped both games of a doubleheader at Wright State University’s Nischwitz Stadium on Sunday. A go-ahead, fifth-inning home run by Wright State’s Brandon Giltrow turned the tide in Game 1, an eventual 6-1 victory for the Raiders. Wright State scored early an often in Game 2 and went on to prevail 7-0.

How It Happened – Game 1

  • The Crusaders (6-11, 0-3 Horizon) struck first as Giovanni Garbella and Jake Hanson ripped back-to-back two-out doubles in the first inning. For the second consecutive day, Hanson came up with a man in scoring position in the first, and hit the ball hard both times.
  • The Raiders (12-6, 3-0) responded in the bottom of the frame as Adrian Marquez drilled one out of the reach of James Stea in center for a triple on the first pitch thrown by Valpo starting pitcher Wes Gordon. Marquez boogied home as JD Orr stroked a single up the middle to even the score.
  • After the first-inning double by Hanson, Wright State starter Ryan Weiss sent down the next 11 Crusaders. Valpo broke through in the fifth, when Patrick Donohue singled, but was then caught stealing by Wright State catcher Brandon Giltrow. Following the caught stealing, Jayden Eggimann one-hopped the wall in right center for a two-bagger, but he was left stranded at second.
  • The bottom of the Wright State order came through in a big way in the bottom of the fifth. Nick Weybright picked up his second hit of the season with one out, then No. 9 hitter Giltrow unloaded his first home run of the year, a two-run blow to put Wright State ahead 3-1.
  • Zach Weatherford laid down a two-out bunt single in the fifth, then advanced all the way to third on a throwing error by the Crusaders. That allowed Weatherford to score an unearned run on a single by Orr to make it 4-1.
  • Gordon issued a leadoff walk to Matt Morrow in the sixth that eventually came back to haunt the Crusaders. Gordon departed with men at first and second and nobody out, and Chet Joslyn was summoned from the bullpen. Seth Gray bounced into a run-scoring fielder’s choice, then Weybright singled to place runners at first and second with one away.
  • With a right-handed batter due, Valpo head coach Brian Schmack brought in right-hander Luke VanLanen, who induced a sharp line drive to short off the bat of Giltrow. Eggimann made a nice leaping catch, then flipped to second to complete the inning-ending double play.
  • The Raiders added an unearned run in the seventh as a two-out error allowed Weatherford to score.

How It Happened – Game 2

  • Valpo starter Grant Inman pitched from behind in the count regularly in the early going of Game 2, and issued a pair of walks and three hits in the second inning, leading to three runs. Inman left the game after two innings with Valpo down 3-0.
  • Hanson was hit by a pitch with one out in the second for Valpo’s first base runner, but was quickly erased as Wright State starter Zane Collins induced a double play.
  • Alex Dirienzo took over for the third inning and allowed a one-out double to Morrow, who eventually came in to score Wright State’s fourth run on a throwing error by the Crusaders.
  • The Crusaders committed their second error of the game in the fourth inning, helping the Raiders tack on three more unearned tallies to build the lead to 7-0.
  • Valpo mounted its first significant scoring chance of the game in the fifth, when Kapers reached on an error, Donohue ripped a sharp single and Eggimann singled with Kapers receiving the stop sign at third. The Crusaders couldn’t cash in on the bases loaded, one-out opportunity as Collins escaped with back-to-back strikeouts.
  • The Crusaders had another chance in the top of the seventh, when singles by Donohue and Chase Dawson and a walk to Dent allowed them to pack the bags with two outs, but Valpo stranded the maximum for the second time in the game.
  • Eggimann turned a nifty double play for the second consecutive game when he made a sliding stop, stepped on second and threw to first for a 6-3 twin killing to end the eighth.
  • The Valpo bullpen held the Raiders scoreless in the fifth through eighth innings, but the Crusaders couldn’t muster up much offense in the defeat.

Inside the Games

  • Gordon (0-3) was hit with the loss in the first game, after allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits in five innings. He issued two walks and fanned three.
  • Valpo trotted out six pitchers in Game 1, including freshman Michael Hardtke, who made his collegiate debut by getting the last out of the eighth.
  • Weiss (3-0) was the recipient of the win in Game 1, going seven innings and scattering six hits while yielding just one earned run. He struck out three and issued no walks.
  • Inman was the losing pitcher in the second game, dropping to 2-2 on the season after allowing three runs on four hits and two walks in two innings.
  • Collins (2-2) grabbed the win in Game 2 by hurling six shutout innings. He racked up nine strikeouts, yielded just four hits and did not walk a man.
  • Easton Rhodehouse hurled two shutout innings in relief in the second game. He has allowed just one earned run in 13 1/3 innings this season.
  • Dawson notched two hits in the second game, his sixth two-hit performance of the season. Donohue also enjoyed a two-hit Game 2, his second multi-hit game of the year. Donohue had started two games this season going into Sunday, but he got the nod in left field for both games of Sunday’s double dip.

Next Up
The Crusaders will step out of league play and visit Chicago State on Tuesday at 3 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on WVUR, 95.1 FM Valparaiso. Links to live audio and stats will be available on ValpoAthletics.com.

Bowling Concludes Final Regular Season Tournament
The #25 Valparaiso University bowling team closed out its final regular season tune-up prior to the Southland Bowling League Championship on Sunday, finishing up action from the Columbia 300 Music City Classic in Smyrna, Tenn.

How It Happened

  • The Crusaders began the day’s bracket play, contested in the best-of-seven baker format, versus Louisiana Tech. Games of 202 and 210 propelled Valpo to an early 2-0 lead, and after a game four victory, the Crusaders led 3-1. But a 193 effort in game five wasn’t enough for a win, and Louisiana Tech claimed each of the final two games as well as Valpo fell 4-3.
  • Valpo earned wins in its next match against Elmhurst in games two and five, posting scores of 212 and 234, respectively, in those two victories. But the Crusaders were unable to post a score higher than 163 in any of the other four games, falling to the Bluejays 4-2.
  • The Crusaders ended the tournament on a winning note, taking down Mount Aloysius by a 4-2 final. Valpo fell behind one game to none and 2-1, but rallied to claim games four, five and six to earn the victory.

Next Up
The Crusaders (45-51) will now prepare for the 2017 Southland Bowling League Championship, a three-day event which will be contested in Jonesboro, Ark. starting this Friday, March 24.

Crusaders Cap Hawkeye Invitational With Sunday Win
The Valparaiso University softball team left Iowa City on a winning note Sunday afternoon, never trailing in taking down South Dakota State by a 3-1 final to improve to 12-6 on the season.

How It Happened

  • Valpo took a lead it would not relinquish in its first turn at bat in the top of the first. Sophomore Carly Trepanier (Manteno, Ill./Manteno) led off the frame with a walk and moved up to second on a sacrifice by senior Jorgi Calombaris (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) before stealing third base.
  • Two batters later, junior Jenna Stauffenberg (Kankakee, Ill./Bishop McNamara) lined a single into right field to score Trepanier and make it 1-0 Crusaders.
  • Valpo added to its lead with a pair of runs in the fourth inning. Sophomore Jaymee Lawton (Goodyear, Ariz./Desert Edge [Utah Valley]) lined a one-out single into center, and freshman Hannah Dybalski (Lebanon, Ind./Lebanon) reached on an error to put two runners aboard.
  • On second and third with two outs, a grounder to third looked like it would be the third out, but the throw to first pulled the first baseman’s foot off the bag. Lawton scored immediately, and Dybalski rounded third and kept going home as the first baseman attempted to sell the call, making it a two-run error and giving the Crusaders a 3-0 lead.
  • While the Crusaders were taking the lead, junior Mackenzie Grossmann (Perry, Mo./Mark Twain [Morehead State]) and the Valpo defense were keeping the Jackrabbits off the board. Grossmann pitched around a one-out double in the second and a runner on second with nobody out in the third. The Crusaders erased a leadoff single in the fifth as well, as Stauffenberg threw down to Lawton to catch the runner stealing.
  • A leadoff double in the bottom of the seventh led to SDSU’s only run, as Paige Gerdes drove in the runner with a two-out single to make it a 3-1 game. A walk put the potential tying run on base, but Grossmann recorded a strikeout to close out the victory.

Inside the Game

  • The win made it a .500 weekend for the Crusaders, who closed out the three days in Iowa City with a 2-2 record.
  • Valpo was limited to just five hits by SDSU pitching, two of which came from Stauffenberg – her fifth multi-hit game of the year.
  • Senior Sam Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) and Trepanier were both held hitless, the latter snapping her 16-game hitting streak which matched the longest known hitting streak in program history.
  • Both Stewart and Trepanier did reach base once via walk, extending their respective on-base streaks to 18 games.
  • Lawton reached base twice, extending her on-base streak to five games, while Dybalski and freshman Gabby Magnifico (Elmhurst, Ill./York) each picked up base hits as well.
  • Grossmann tossed a complete-game five-hitter, striking out six, in the circle for Valpo to improve to 7-4 on the year. Only one runner even reached third base, as the Crusaders limited SDSU to 1-of-10 at the plate with runners in scoring position.
  • Lawton was strong defensively at shortstop with Grossmann getting a number of ground balls, tallying seven assists – her second-highest single-game total in her time at Valpo.

Next Up
The Crusaders (12-6) are scheduled for one final non-league outing before starting Horizon League play, making the short trip to Chicago for a single game versus Loyola Wednesday at 3 p.m. The game can be seen live on ESPN3, WatchESPN and the ESPN app, with links for the live video and live stats available via ValpoAthletics.com.

Crusaders Pick Up Pair of Wins Saturday
The #25 Valparaiso University bowling team earned a pair of victories on Saturday as it continued play at the Columbia 300 Music City Classic in Smyrna, Tenn.

How It Happened

  • Valpo opened Saturday’s action, contested in the traditional team format, versus #18 North Carolina A&T. Fifth-year senior Olivia Wirtz (Battle Creek, Mich./Harper Creek [Vanderbilt] led Valpo with a 191 game, but the Crusaders fell by a 922-840 final.
  • Senior Marianna Guerrieri (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) paced the Crusaders with a game of 211 in their second match of the day, a 908-871 loss against #19 Prairie View A&M. Valpo then took on the nation’s top-ranked team in McKendree, dropping a 918-859 decision despite a 203 game from senior Savannah Carr (Buckeye, Ariz./Youngker).
  • Carr would pace the Crusaders in their next match as well, rolling Valpo’s top game of the day as her 229 effort led the way for a 908-833 victory over Elmhurst.
  • Valpo closed the day on a winning note, as the Crusaders edged out Lincoln in their final match, 815-810 – led by a 179 game from freshman Morgan Peacha (Henderson, Nev./Foothill).
  • Valpo ended the day in 29th place with a pinfall count of 8,483 pins through two days of competition.

Next Up
The Crusaders (44-49) finish out action from Smyrna with bracket play on Sunday morning, beginning at 8:30 a.m. versus Louisiana Tech.

Softball Rallies For Walk-Off Win Saturday
Entering the bottom of the seventh inning Saturday night against South Dakota trailing by one run was no obstacle to coming out victorious for the Valparaiso University softball team, as the Crusaders strung together four straight singles – the last a walk-off base hit from junior Jenna Stauffenberg (Kankakee, Ill./Bishop McNamara) – to score a pair of runs and earn the 5-4 win over the Coyotes.

How It Happened

  • Entering their final turn at the plate trailing by one, the Crusaders got the rally started right away, as sophomore Jaymee Lawton (Goodyear, Ariz./Desert Edge [Utah Valley]) watched four pitches go by for a leadoff walk. Freshman Gabby Magnifico (Elmhurst, Ill./York) followed with a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt to move Lawton into scoring position with one out.
  • Sophomore Carly Trepanier (Manteno, Ill./Manteno) wasted no time tying the game, taking the first pitch she saw the other way for a run-scoring single to plate Lawton and make it a 4-4 game.
  • Classmates Jorgi Calombaris (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) and Sam Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) delivered back-to-back singles back through the middle to load the bases, still with only one out.
  • After falling behind in the count 0-2, Stauffenberg worked the count back even before lining a shot over the left fielder’s head to the base of the wall, easily more than enough to bring home Trepanier with the winning run.
  • A two-run double for the Coyotes gave South Dakota a 2-0 lead in the top of the third, but Valpo answered with three in its half of the third. Magnifico, Trepanier and Calombaris rattled off three straight singles to start the inning and load the bases, and Stewart lined a two-run single down the left-field line to tie the game. Two batters later, a South Dakota error allowed Calombaris to score and give Valpo a 3-2 lead.
  • South Dakota scored two runs in the top of the fifth to take a 4-3 lead, but junior Mackenzie Grossmann (Perry, Mo./Mark Twain [Morehead State]) – who had entered out of the bullpen earlier in the inning – recorded a strikeout with two on and two out to limit the damage.
  • A one-out single from Calombaris was the Crusaders’ only baserunner in their next two turns at bat, setting up the game-winning sequence in the bottom of the seventh.

Inside the Game

  • The win was Valpo’s first of the season when trailing after a complete inning, and only its second of the year when trailing at any point during a game.
  • The Crusaders have won just one game per year when trailing after six innings in each of the last three complete seasons. Valpo’s last victory when trailing after six innings came in last season’s Horizon League Championship title game.
  • The top of the order led the way for the Crusaders on Saturday, as the first three batters in the order posted eight of Valpo’s 10 hits.
  • Batting in the two spot, Calombaris was a perfect 3-for-3 on the game with a sacrifice bunt and a run scored. It was the senior’s first three-hit game since going 3-for-4 last season on May 7 at Wright State – the win which propelled the Crusaders into the league tournament.
  • Trepanier continued her tremendous start to the year by going 3-for-4 with two runs scored in Saturday’s win, her third three-hit game this season and 10th multi-hit game in Valpo’s first 17 games.
  • Stewart added a pair of hits and two RBIs as well, her seventh game this season with multiple RBIs.
  • Both Stewart and Trepanier extended their on-base streaks to 17 straight games, as they have both reached at least once in every contest this season. Meanwhile, Trepanier extended her hitting streak to 16 games – matching Valpo’s longest hitting streak since at least 1999 (Taylor Callahan, 2007; Joylyn Ichiyama, 2013).
  • Grossmann put together a strong effort out of the bullpen to earn the relief win, as she tossed 2.2 innings of one-hit shutout ball, striking out four batters to improve to 6-4 on the year.
  • Junior Ashlyn Montgomery (Lebanon, Ind./Lebanon) started and surrendered four runs – three earned – in 4.1 innings of work.

Next Up
The Crusaders (11-6) will conclude action at the Hawkeye Invitational on Sunday morning, as Valpo takes on South Dakota State at 11 a.m. Live stats will be available via ValpoAthletics.com.

Valpo Concludes Season Opener in Sunshine State
The Valparaiso University men’s and women’s track and field teams concluded Day 2 of the Bulls Invitational at the University of South Florida in Tampa, finishing the outdoor season opener. The women garnered three Top 10 results and the men achieved 11.

How It Happened

  • For the men, junior Andrew Guzek (Valparaiso, Ind. / Valparaiso) earned the top mark for Valpo at the invite. In the shot put, the thrower had a distance of 46’11” to take home third place. Freshman Jake Rasawehr (Celina, Ohio/Celina) received a sixth-place result (44’2 1/2").
  • In the javelin event, sophomore Drew McKissick Jr. (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) earned sixth place with a throw of 167’5” to lead the Crusaders. Sophomore Peter Rhodes (McLeansville, N.C./Burlington Christian Academy) also competed in the event for Valpo.
  • Junior jumper Montel Hall (Waukegan, Ill./Waukegan) leaped 44’10 3/4" in the triple jump, taking home eighth place. Freshman Nick Ricks (St. Louis, Mo./Lutheran North) and sophomore Malik Riley (Romeoville, Ill./Romeoville) tallied 10th (44’0”) and 11th (42’0 1/2") place marks.
  • Freshman Bryce Otterbach (Mendota, Ill./Mendota Township) ran away with fourth place in the 400m hurdles with a time of 58.93, just clipping his fifth-place teammate, senior Mark Pinnow (Columbus, Ind./Trinity Lutheran), who crossed at 1:00.90.
  • The team of senior Jeru Lollis (Springfield, Ohio/Springfield), freshman Taylor Allen (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville), freshman Ben Sekuloski (Lowell, Ind./Lowell) and junior James Sampson (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) exited the 4x100m relay with a third-place result with a time of 42.63.
  • Junior Alexander Watson (Bolivar, Ohio/Tuscarawas Valley) cleared the bar at 14’4” in the pole vault to take home seventh.
  • Freshman Anne Mou (Bloomingdale, Ill./Lake Park) received the squad’s top placing for the women on Saturday. In the triple jump, she earned fifth place (35’2 1/2"). Freshman Shannon Lahey (Dixon, Ill./Dixon) had a distance of 32’5 3/4" for eighth.
  • Sophomore Abby Jankowski threw the discus 124’10” for 10th place.

Next Up
Valpo stays in-state as it travels to Rensselaer on Saturday, March 25 for the Edmonds Invite, hosted by Saint Joseph’s College. The meet will begin at 9 a.m. CT.

Wright State Nips Valpo in League Opener
The Valparaiso University baseball team suffered a 2-1 setback to Wright State on Saturday afternoon at Nischwitz Stadium in Dayton, Ohio. Valpo’s Mario Losi and Wright State’s Danny Sexton engaged in a quality pitchers’ duel that was won by Sexton, who tossed a complete game. Losi received no decision despite allowing just one run over seven innings.

How It Happened

  • The Crusaders (6-9, 0-1 Horizon) had a chance to grab an early edge in the first inning after Giovanni Garbella and Nate Palace ripped consecutive two-out singles. That set up Jake Hanson, who crushed a sharp line drive to second baseman Matt Morrow, who made a nifty play to save a run.
  • The Raiders (10-6, 1-0) drew first blood in the bottom of the second when Alex Alders delivered a two-out triple over the infield and into the gap in right center, driving in Morrow for the game’s first run.
  • The Crusaders threatened in the fourth, but Steven Fitzsimmons bounced out with men at first and third and two down to end the frame.
  • The fifth inning saw Valpo level the score as Giovanni Garbella belted a two-out double that bounced up against the outfield wall, allowing Chase Dawson to scamper home from first. Dawson had reached via a hit by pitch.
  • Losi was dominant in the middle portion of the game, at one point retiring 10 straight. He sent down the side in order in the fourth and fifth, before having his streak of batters retired snapped when he issued a two-out walk in the sixth.
  • Valpo had opportunities to grab the lead in both the sixth and seventh. In the sixth inning, Hanson led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sam Shaikin, but he was left in scoring position. James Stea unloaded a one-out double in the seventh, then got a great jump and swiped third. Stea stayed at third as Dawson struck out and Garbella flied to right to end the chance.
  • In the seventh, the Raiders notched their first hit since the third inning, then made it back-to-back singles with one out to form a quality scoring chance. Wright State came up empty, as Losi induced a fly ball to center and a bouncer back to the mound to end the frame.
  • Losi departed with no decision after seven strong innings, and Valpo went with right-hander Ellis Foreman for the eighth. Zach Weatherford greeted Foreman with a leadoff two-bagger, then came around to score the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly to medium-deep straight-away center by Morrow.
  • Sexton sent down the last eight Crusaders, including a 1-2-3 ninth to seal the complete game victory.

Inside the Game

  • The Crusaders are now 0-5 in one-run games this season.
  • Hanson enjoyed his third two-hit contest of the year, going 2-for-4. Garbella also notched his third multi-hit day, turning in a 2-for-4 performance.
  • Stea extended his on-base streak to 14 straight and has reached in 28 of his last 29 dating back to last year.
  • Losi issued two walks and struck out six while scattering five hits over seven one-run innings. Foreman (1-1) was hit with the defeat after allowing one run on one hit in his lone frame.
  • This marked the first time in Losi’s last 14 starts that he’s thrown seven innings.
  • Sexton upped his record to 4-0 with the complete game win. He allowed one run on seven hits while issuing one walk and striking out five.
  • Alders was the only Raider with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3.

Next Up
The Crusaders and Raiders will go at it again on Sunday, this time with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. CT. The games can be seen on ESPN3, WatchESPN and the ESPN app and heard on 95.1 FM Valparaiso. Links to live video, audio and stats can be found on ValpoAthletics.com.

Valpo Kicks Off Music City Classic Friday
The #25 Valparaiso University bowling team kicked off its final test of the regular season on Friday, bowling on the first of three days at the Columbia 300 Music City Classic in Smyrna, Tenn., hosted by Vanderbilt.

How It Happened

  • Valpo opened the day, contested in the five-game baker format, versus #6 Fairleigh Dickinson. The Crusaders fell to the Knights, 958-831.
  • Valpo then dropped decisions to #12 Monmouth (923-872) and #25 Saint Francis [N.Y.] (1031-851).
  • The Crusaders would rebound to close the day on a winning note, earning back-to-back victories to post a 2-3 record for the day. Valpo took down Alabama State, 855-794, before ending Friday’s action with a 781-648 win over Alabama A&M.
  • Valpo ended the day with a total pinfall of 4,190 pins to finish the day in 30th place and is less than 200 pins out of the top-25.

Next Up
The Crusaders (42-46) continue action from Smyrna on Saturday with a set of five traditional team matches, set to begin at 9:30 a.m.

Crusaders Begin Outdoor Season at South Florida
The Valparaiso University men’s and women’s track and field teams started their outdoor seasons on Friday by participating in the Bulls Invitational, hosted by the University of South Florida. The field event athletes maintained the momentum from their stellar performances at the Horizon League Indoor Championships and earned three Top 10 marks.

How It Happened

  • For the men, junior Andrew Guzek (Valparaiso, Ind. / Valparaiso) received the top result for the first day of competition for the Crusaders. He had a distance of 151’11” in the hammer throw, capturing seventh place. The standout tossed the discus 138’7” for ninth.
  • Freshman Jake Rasawehr (Celina, Ohio / Celina) clipped his teammate in the discus, securing an eighth-place mark with a toss of 141’10”. The rookie had a distance of 131’9” in the hammer throw, a ninth-place effort.
  • Junior Montel Hall (Waukegan, Ill. / Waukegan) came close to cracking the Top 10 in the long jump. The jump specialist leaped 21’4 3/4" to earn 11th and lead Valpo in the event. Sophomore Malik Riley (Romeoville, Ill. / Romeoville), freshman Nick Ricks (St. Louis, Mo. / Lutheran North) and sophomore Aaron Clark Jr. earned 14th, 15th and 19th respectively in the long jump.
  • Sophomore Abby Jankowski had the top result for the Valpo women on Day 1, earning 11th in the hammer throw with a distance of 129’1”. Teammate sophomore Nellie Bonham (Palos Hills, Ill. / Stagg) finished two spots behind in the event with a result of 126’7” for 13th.
  • Freshman jumper Anne Mou (Bloomingdale, Ill. / Lake Park) landed 16’3 1/4" from the starting point in the long jump, receiving 14th. Freshman Shannon Lahey (Dixon, Ill. / Dixon) took home 16th (15’9 1/2").

Next Up
The Crusaders continue action on Saturday with Day 2 of the Bulls Invitational. The meet begins at 10 a.m. CT in Tampa, Fla. at the USF Track & Field Stadium.

Crusaders Drop Pair of Games in Iowa Friday
The Valparaiso University softball team started out action at the Hawkeye Invitational from Iowa City, Iowa on Friday with a pair of games. The Crusaders fell in their tournament opener to Creighton, 12-4, and then dropped a 3-0 decision to host Iowa in the nightcap.

How It Happened – Creighton

  • Creighton struck for three runs in the first six batters of the first, and added two more runs in the top of the third to take a 5-0 lead.
  • After leaving two runners on base in each of the first two innings, the Crusaders strung together a two-out rally to post a crooked number in the third. With two on and two out, junior Jasmine Ramirez (Litchfield Park, Ariz./Millennium) lined a double down the left-field line to score Valpo’s first run, and an infield grounder brought sophomore Jaymee Lawton (Goodyear, Ariz./Desert Edge [Utah Valley]) home with another tally.
  • Junior Lanie Callaghan (Elburn, Ill./Kaneland) followed by dropping an RBI single into shallow left-center to make it a 5-3 game, and two batters later, sophomore Carly Trepanier (Manteno, Ill./Manteno) drew a bases-loaded walk for the fourth run of the inning to bring Valpo within one run.
  • But Creighton scored three runs on a Valpo error in the top of the fourth to push its lead out to 8-4, and then added four more runs in the fifth to complete the run-rule victory.

How It Happened – Iowa

  • Valpo put two on with two out in the top of the first, but couldn’t take the early lead. Iowa then scored a run in the bottom half of the frame on a double steal.
  • The Crusaders would have chances to even the game in each of the next three innings, as leadoff base hits and well-executed sacrifices put a runner in scoring position with one away in all three frames. But Valpo was unable to push across a run in any of the three opportunities.
  • A squeeze bunt plated an Iowa insurance run in the fourth, and the Hawkeyes added a third run in the sixth on a solo homer from Allie Wood.

Inside the Games

  • Ramirez tallied a pair of hits in the opener versus Creighton, while senior Sam Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) reached base in all three of her plate appearances (1-for-1, two walks) and Trepanier and Callaghan reached twice as well.
  • Trepanier also picked up a base hit versus Iowa, extending her hitting streak to 15 games and her on-base streak to all 16 games this year. Stewart drew a walk against the Hawkeyes and has reached base in all 16 games this season as well.
  • Junior Mackenzie Grossmann (Perry, Mo./Mark Twain [Morehead State]) took the loss in the opener, falling to 5-4 after giving up five runs in 2.1 innings of work. Fellow junior Ashlyn Montgomery (Lebanon, Ind./Lebanon) fell to 4-2 on the year as she started the game against Iowa and surrendered three runs in 5.2 innings.

Next Up
The Crusaders (10-6) continue action from Iowa City on Saturday evening with a single game versus South Dakota, scheduled for a 6 p.m. first pitch. Live stats will be available via ValpoAthletics.com.