Valparaiso, Ind. - Tom Starck tossed a three-hit, complete-game shutout and Kyle Obenauf turned in a five-hit complete-game victory as Valpo swept a Mid-Continent Conference doubleheader from Oakland by scores of 1-0 and 3-1. The Crusaders are now in second place in the league with a 5-1 record. Mike Arensdorff and Kevin Perri each went 4-for-7 with an RBI in the twinbill.

Starck (4-5) was dominating, striking out 11 while walking one in hurling the entire 9 innings. The lefty pitched out of a first-inning jam, fanning three straight Golden Grizzlies after the first two hitters reached base.

After Ty Herriott reached base on a hit-by-pitch to lead off the second, Starck retired 10 of the next 11 batters.

In the third inning, Valpo (11-21) produced the only run Starck needed when Arensdorff had a two-out single and scored on Perri's RBI double.

A senior, Starck became stronger near the end of the game, retiring the last four batters.
Colin Reynolds had two straight doubles and Arensdorff and Perri also had two hits.

Oakland's Steve Kniebbe was also impressive on the mound, allowing one run and seven hits in 8 innings. He struck out seven and did not yield a walk.

Obenauf (3-4) was outstanding in the second game, limiting Oakland (10-23, 3-3) to one run in 7 innings. The sophomore righty struck out three and walked one.

The second out of the seventh came in spectacular fashion as freshman centerfielder Brian Rzepka made a diving backhanded catch of John Sullivan's long fly in the left center field gap.

The Crusaders took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Arensdorff and Perri had back-to-back singles and Arensdorff scored on a wild pitch.

After the Golden Grizzlies tied the game at 1-1 in the third on Brad Noel's RBI single, Valpo responded with two more runs in the bottom of the third. Jeff Rickert singled, stole second and scored on Arensdorff's single. Arensdorff stole second, went to third on the catcher's throwing error and touched home when Perri reached base on an error by the third baseman.

Arensdorff and Perri each tallied two more hits, while Noel had two hits for Oakland. Kyle Boehm (2-2) suffered the loss, allowing two earned runs and seven hits in 6 innings. He fanned eight and did not walk a batter.

Valpo hosts Oakland on Sunday in a doubleheader beginning at noon.