Saturday, April 03, 2004

Fort Wayne, Ind. - Valpo dropped a doubleheader to IPFW by scores of 2-1 and 9-3. Mike Arensdorff went 4-for-7 in the twinbill for the Crusaders.

In the first game, Valpo took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Kevin Kutansky led off with a single and advanced to third on Colin Reynolds' double. One out later, Ryan Manthei plated Kutansky with a ground out to the shortstop.

The Crusaders had an opportunity to tie or take the lead in the sixth. However, after placing runners on first and second with one out, the threat ended with a double play.

Brian Rzepka led Valpo with two hits. Tom Starck (1-5) went the distance (6 innings) on the mound for the Crusaders, allowing two earned runs on five hits. The senior lefty fanned five and yielded five walks.

Dustin Fremion went 3-for-4 for IPFW. Jason Horvath hurled a complete-game, allowing one run on eight hits. He struck out seven and walked two.

In the nightcap, Valpo (3-15) scored one run in each of the first three innings, but IPFW (9-16) scored three in the third and four in the fourth to take an 8-3 lead.

All three Crusader runs were unearned as a result of four IPFW errors. Troy Garrett, who went 2-for-3, drove in Valpo's second-inning run with a single.

Arensdorff went 3-for-4 for Valpo. Adam Paetznick (0-3) started for the Crusaders and pitched 2 2/3 innings. The senior righty allowed four earned runs on three hits, while striking out four and walking four.

David Zachary went the distance for IPFW, allowing no earned runs and seven hits. He fanned five and issued one walk.

Ryan Keena produced two, two-run singles for the Mastodons in the third and fourth innings. Ryan Steinbach had two RBIs for IPFW.

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