South Bend, Ind. - Notre Dame scored six times in the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie and went on to defeat Valpo 9-3. Tyler Lowell belted a solo homer and Jon Rupno and Matt Augustine had RBI hits for the Crusaders.

Lowell hit his solo homer down the left field line to tie the game at 1-1 in the sixth.

Valpo (4-18) tallied two runs in the ninth when Brian Rzepka reached on an error and scored on Rupno's double. Augustine followed with a pinch hit single, plating Rupno.

Matt Gillikin (0-2) suffered the loss, hurling 5 innings. He allowed three earned runs and four hits, while striking out five and walking three.

Matt Macri's two-run double highlighted the six-run sixth. Craig Cooper and Matt Bransfield had two hits and one RBI each for Notre Dame (24-3).

Jess Stewart started on the mound for the Irish and pitched 5 innings. He allowed no runs and one hit, while fanning six and walking none. Mike Dury (2-0) earned the win in relief.

Valpo begins Mid-Continent Conference action on Friday at noon with a doubleheader at Centenary.