Six Crusader pitchers combined to beat the Goshen College Maple Leafs 11-4 at Emory G. Bauer Field Monday afternoon.
Ryan Kennedy (1-1) earned the win for Valpo diffusing a bases-loaded threat in the 4th inning, then throwing a scoreless top of the fifth.
Tanner Vavra and Andrew Bynum both had three-hit games for the Crusaders (19-23, 7-8 Horizon). Vavra also scored four runs to make him the team leader in that category.
Last week's Horizon League Co-Hitter of the Week John Loeffler added a double, a triple, two runs batted in, and three runs scored in Valpo's fifth straight win.
Valpo broke a 4-4 tie in its half of the 5th inning thanks to Loeffler's double followed by a Kyle Schneider sacrifice fly, and a Jake Hanson RBI single.
Chris Manning tallied his third RBI of the game with a sac fly to left as part of a three-run 8th inning.
After a rocky first four frames, the bullpen buckled down to blank Goshen (4-40) the final five innings.
Connor Buxton fired scoreless 6th and 7th innings before passing on the torch to Sean Kennedy and Mike Jacobs. Both lefties worked perfect frames. Jacobs struck out the side in the 9th.
Valpo plays Western Michigan (13-28, 6-12 MAC) Tuesday afternoon at 3:00 pm CT at Emory G. Bauer Field.
Freshman Drew Hasler (1-0, 1.50) gets the ball for the Crusaders.