After a rain-delayed start to the final day of action at the Springhill Suites Invitational in Boise, Idaho on Sunday, the Valparaiso offense was never able to get on track, as the Crusaders lost to Indiana, 3-1, and Boise State, 7-0.
Indiana took the lead right away in the opener, scoring all three of its runs in the first two innings. Valpo rallied back with a run in the fourth, as an RBI single from Amanda Korb (Indianapolis, Ind./Lutheran) scored Tarah McShane (Streamwood, Ill./St. Edward Central Catholic), but a potential second run was thrown out at the plate, and the Crusaders registered just a lone base hit in the final three innings.
Sierra Pico (Las Vegas, Nev./Legacy) took the loss for Valpo to fall to 1-7 after giving up all three runs in 1.1 innings of work, while Mollie Lindeman (Hebron, Ind./Hebron [PNC]) posted 4.2 innings of shutout work in relief. Lora Olson improved to 2-7 for Indiana (5-16-1), earning the win out of the bullpen. Jessie Marinec (Alsip, Ill./Marist) had her third straight multi-hit game to lead the Crusader offense.
The Crusaders had opportunities in the finale against Boise State, but stranded eight runners on base in all, including a pair of runners in three separate innings. Meanwhile, the Broncos scored five runs over the first two frames and added two more runs in the fourth for their scoring.
Taylor Weissenhofer (Orland Park, Ill./Lockport Township) fell to 2-4 on the year in the circle after starting and being charged with the loss, giving up five runs in 1.2 innings. Lindeman had her second straight solid relief effort, going three shutout frames. Rebecca Patton went the distance in the circle for Boise State (10-11) to push her record to 10-6. In the batting order for the first time this year, Lindeman reached base all three times she came to bat, including a pair of walks.
Valparaiso (4-14) heads to Honolulu, Hawaii for the Rainbow Wahine Classic to close out its spring break trip. The tournament begins Wednesday with games against James Madison and Hawai’i.
