Wednesday, March 31, 2004

Valparaiso University snapped its five-game losing skid with a 2-0 victory over Northern Illinois on Wednesday afternoon at the Valparaiso University Softball Field. Game two of the scheduled doubleheader was cancelled due to cold.

Ashlee Blankenbaker (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso H.S.) her first collegiate shutout, allowing just two hits and striking out eight. The freshman walked just one.

Valpo scored its two runs in the fourth. Beth Adamski (St. John, Ind./Lake Central H.S.) and Monica Rowan (Evergreen Park, Ill./Evergreen Park H.S.) were on the corners after each singled and freshman Taylor Callahan (Grayson, Ga./Greater Atlanta Christian H.S.) doubled to left-center to score both runners.

From there it was all Blankenbaker. She worked out of a jam in the third with runners on second and third by getting a strikeout to end the inning. That inning marked the only frame in which the Huskies put more than one runner on base as Blankenbaker improved her record to 2-5.

Paige Granath suffered the loss for Northern Illinois (10-19), falling to 1-7. She allowed four hits and walked three while striking out three.

Valpo (5-13) will begin Mid-Continent Conference action this weekend as the Crusaders head to Indianapolis to battle IUPUI. Friday's twinbill begins at 3 p.m. CST.