Sunday, March 23, 2003

Niles, Ohio - Valpo's Marc Boggio delivered a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh inning to force a 5-5 tie, but Akron scored four times in the top of the eighth and defeated the Crusaders 9-5 in eight innings. Sean Peickert went three-for-three with an RBI for Valpo (3-8-1). Boggio and Brandon Sadler had two RBIs apiece.

Akron (4-9) began its game-winning rally with two outs in the eighth. After two straight singles, Shaun Hinssen hit a two-run double. Dan Swallie then followed with a two-run homer over the right field fence.

The Zips led 4-0 after scoring three in the second and one in the third. Valpo got on the board in the third when Boggio's RBI groundout scored Eric Snyder.

Valpo tallied three runs in the fifth to tie the score at 4-4. Snyder walked to lead off the frame and advanced to second on Eddie Hannan's single. Peickert's single down the right field line scored Snyder. Following a strikeout and a walk to load the bases, Sadler singled to center to plate Hannan and Peickert.

Akron's Doug Kruthaupt had an RBI single in the seventh to give the Zips a 5-4 lead. In the bottom of the seventh, Hannan led off with a walk and moved to second on Peickert's sacrifice bunt. After Hannan advanced to third on a wild pitch, Boggio's sacrifice fly to right scored Hannan to tie the game at 5-5.

Todd Evans started on the mound for the Crusaders, allowing four earned runs and 11 hits, while striking out six and walking one in 5 innings. Kyle Obenauf (1-1) took the loss in relief. Pat Watt went 6 innings for Akron, allowing four earned runs on six hits, while fanning seven and walking three. Ross Liersemann (1-1) earned the win in relief.

The Zips finished with 17 hits, led by Hinssen and Israel Victor with three each.

Valpo plays at UIC on Tuesday at 3 p.m. before hosting Saint Joseph's on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.