Valparaiso’s bats exploded for six runs in the opening inning of
game two on Saturday afternoon at Emory G. Bauer Field helping the Crusaders to
a doubleheader split against Wright
State. The Raiders won the opener 6-2 before Valpo
took the nightcap 14-1.
The Crusaders sent 11 batters
to the plate in the opening inning, scoring six times. Josh
Wallace (Bellefountaine,
Ohio/Bellefoutaine H.S.) started
the scoring with a run-scoring double down the leftfield line. With runners on second and third, a ground
ball to second was thrown away at the plate allowing Steven Scoby (Delton,
Mich./Kellogg H.S.) and Wallace
to score increasing the lead to 3-0. Damon McCormick (Louisville, Ky./Saint
Xavier H.S.) added a bases loaded two-run single later in the inning and with
two outs, Dan DeBruin (Combined
Locks, Wis./Kimberly H.S.) added a RBI single.
DeBruin’s run-scoring single
in the third, his third hit in as many innings, made it 7-0 Crusaders. Wright
State scored its lone run
in the fifth on a single by Jake Hibbard before Valpo’s bats went to work once
again.
The Crusaders batted around
again in the fifth, scoring five more times with just one hit. A one-out error by the shortstop on a double
play ball scored two runs and a wild pitch plated a third. Ryan
O’Gara (Buffalo Grove,
Ill./Buffalo Grove H.S.) added the final two
runs of the frame with a double to the gap in left-centerfield.
Valpo added two more runs in
the seventh on a towering homerun by Wallace to straight away center, his sixth
of the season.
Bryce Shafer
(Wabash, Ind./Northfield
H.S.) earned the win (5-2) on the mound for the Crusaders, pitching seven
innings and allowing just one run and six hits while striking out eight. Travis LaMar suffered the loss (2-4) for WrightState,
allowing seven runs, five earned, and 11 hits in just three innings.
DeBruin paced the Crusader
14-hit attack with a 3-for-4 night while drawing a walk. Scoby, Wallace, O’Gara, McCormick, and Kyle Muhlsteff (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza
H.S.) added two hits a piece for the Crusaders.
“We swung the bats well in
the second game,” head coach Tracy
Woodson said.
The Crusaders took a lead
late into game one as well before squandering six unanswered runs. A two-run homer by Matt Lenski (Milwaukee,
Wis./Marquette University H.S.)
that plated Scoby as well, in the third inning gave Valpo the lead.
Wright State scored one in the seventh to cut the lead in half
with four straight hits, all with two outs.
A two-out double in the eighth by Ryan Ashe put the Raiders in front and
the visitors tacked on three insurance tallies in the ninth to secure the win.
Alex Berry (Olney, Ill./East
Richland H.S.) did not get a decision for the Crusaders despite working seven
innings on the mound and allowing just one run and six hits. Jarad
Miller (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll H.S.) suffered the loss (0-2)
in relief, allowing two runs and two hits in 1.1 innings of work. Rylan Ostrosky earned the win (4-3), allowing
two runs and eight hits in seven innings for Wright State.
Lenski and McCormick were
both 3-for-4 while recording six of Valpo’s eight hits in the game. The Raiders pounded out 11 hits, including
eight in the final three innings.
“Our starters, Berry and Shafer, both
pitched well today,” Woodson said. “Our
starting pitching has been good most of the year. Every game is big for us from here on out to
keep pace in the conference.”
Valpo (17-17, 6-6) and Wright State
(18-21, 6-6) are tied for third in a bunched Horizon League race midway through
the conference slate.
The Crusaders will close
their 10-game homestand on Sunday afternoon hosting Saint Francis (Ind.) at Emory G. Bauer
Field beginning at 1 p.m. The game can be
heard live on WVUR (95.1-FM, Valparaiso)
and online at www.valpoathletics.com