Valparaiso opened its 2005 softball season on Saturday by dropping a pair of games at the Southern Illinois Classic in Carbondale, Ill. The Crusaders fell 6-0 in the opener to the host Salukis and then dropped an 8-0 decision to Ball State.

In the opener against Southern Illinois (6-6), a four-run fourth put the game out of reach for the Brown and Gold. Amy Harre struck out eight and scattered just three hits for Southern Illinois. Brittany Atteberry (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central H.S.) started and suffered the loss for the Crusaders. She allowed five runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Game two saw the Cardinals twice in the second and twice in the seventh along with a four-run sixth inning. Randi Freese allowed just four hits and struck out seven in the complete game victory for Ball State (2-8). Andrea Zappia (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central H.S.) went 5 2/3 innings for the Crusaders and struck out six.

Taylor Callahan (Grayson, Ga./Greater Atlanta Christian H.S.) and Beth Adamski (Saint John, Ind./Lake Central H.S.) had a hit in each game for the Crusaders.

Valpo (0-2) will return to the diamond on Sunday, facing Kansas at 10 a.m. The championship and consolation games of the tournament will follow.