Kevin Kutansky (Schererville, Ind./Munster H.S.) went 5-for-7 , scored twice, and drove in two runs on Saturday afternoon's doubleheader, but it was not enough for Valparaiso as the Crusaders were swept by Oral Roberts 9-6 and 8-1 at Emory G. Bauer Field.

Valpo fell behind early in the opener, allowing two in the first and two more in the third on a homerun by Jake Kahaulelio. Brian Rzepka (South Bend, Ind./Penn H.S.) cut the Golden Eagle lead in half with a two-run double with two outs in the fourth.

After Oral Roberts added a run in the fifth, the Crusaders tied the game with three runs in the sixth. A bases loaded walk to John Giusti (Coventry, R.I./Coventry H.S.) and a two-run single by Jon Rupno (Green Bay, Wis./Pulaski H.S.), both with two outs, tied the game.

The game stayed knotted until the eighth until back-to-back singles by Kelly Minissale and Kahaulelio broke the deadlock. Oral Roberts added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth, before Colin Reynolds (Crookston, Minn./Central H.S.) singled in a run in the bottom of the ninth for Valpo's final run. The Crusaders had the tying run at the plate, but Sean Jarrett, who struck out four in two innings, earned the save.

Derek Smith (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo H.S.) took the loss for Valpo out of the bullpen while Erik Crichton registered the win for the Golden Eagles. Kutansky went 3-for-4 in the game for Valpo as the Crusaders registered 11 hits in the game. Kahaulelio had four RBIs for Oral Roberts while Carter McQuigg had three hits.

In the nightcap, Valpo jumped in front in the opening inning. Michael Arensdorff (Park View, Iowa/North Scott H.S.) singled to right and advanced to second on an error. Kutansky then followed with a run-scoring hit, but that would be all for Valpo's offense in the game.

The Crusaders managed just six hits total, including just two after the second inning.

Oral Roberts scored three times in the third and three more in the fourth, the big hits being two-run doubles by Chad Rothford and Kahaulelio. The Golden Eagles tacked on insurance runs in the fifth and sixth to record the victory.

Chris Ashman went the distance for the winners, striking out four while allowing just the one unearned run and six hits. Harvey Yergin (Akron, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) suffered the loss for Valpo, allowing eight runs, 11 hits, and six walks in six innings.

Kutansky and Rzepka each had two hits for the Brown and Gold while Andy Bouci went 3-for-3 for Oral Roberts.

Valparaiso (6-20, 1-5 Mid-Con) and Oral Roberts (18-12, 2-0) will wrap up their four-game weekend series with a doubleheader on Easter Sunday at Emory G. Bauer Field. First pitch is set for noon with the games being carried live by WVUR (95.1-FM, Valparaiso) and online at www.valpo.edu/athletics.