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.