Saturday, April 05, 2003

Stefani Fisco's two-out, two-run single in the eighth of game one and Lacee LePrey's single in the fifth of game two helped Southern Utah sweep a doubleheader from Valparaiso 2-0 and 3-0 on Saturday afternoon in Kirchhoff Park. The Mid-Continent Conference opener for both teams was moved from the Valparaiso University Softball Field due to field conditions.

The opener was a pitching dual between Amanda Gilbertson (Murrieta, Calif./West Albany H.S., Ore.) and LePrey. Both teams were scoreless heading into extra innings when Fisco's single up the middle plated Anna Leeman and Jentry Johnson.

Valpo tried to rally in the bottom of the inning putting two on base with two outs. Karen Constien (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North H.S.) singled and would have drove home a run but the T-birds picked a Crusader off of second rounding the base to end the game.

Constien had two hits for Valpo while Leeman went 3-for-3 for Southern Utah. Gilbertson struck out two and scattered seven hits, while LePrey struck out ten while allowing five hits.

In the nightcap, Tracy Evans-Jones went the distance allowing just three Crusader hits while striking out one in a complete game shutout.

Southern Utah (13-13, 2-0 Mid-Con) plated the games only runs in the fifth as LePrey singled up the middle to score Lacy Hardy and Leeman doubled home two more runs. All three runs were unearned.

Contstien had two more hits for Valpo while Gilbertson had the other. Brittany Atteberry (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central H.S.) scattered just five hits, striking out four for the Brown and Gold.

The two teams will conclude their weekend series on Sunday morning beginning at 10 a.m. at the Valparaiso University Softball Field. The doubleheader is a make-up from Friday's rain out.