Continuing the #ValpoInTheValley series, which will take a look at each of the Missouri Valley Conference’s 17 sports, is baseball. Learn about the landscape of The Valley in baseball, how Valpo has fared against opponents from The Valley in the past, and hear from head coach Brian Schmack as he talks about what the program is looking forward to entering its first season of MVC competition and who will lead the way in 2018 for his team.

The Valparaiso University baseball program has announced that this year’s Alumni Golf Outing and Alumni Game will take place on Saturday, Sept. 23 and Sunday, Sept. 24.

The Valparaiso University baseball program has announced dates for its annual Youth Camp, which will take place from July 17-19 at Emory G. Bauer Field.

Valparaiso University baseball freshman Jon Tieman (Crystal Lake, Ill. / Prairie Ridge) received a distinct honor on Wednesday as he was tabbed a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

Valparaiso University president Mark A. Heckler, Ph.D., announced today that the University has accepted an invitation to join the Missouri Valley Conference on July 1, 2017. The Crusaders will begin competing for MVC championships in the 2017–2018 academic year.

The Valparaiso University baseball team saw its season come to an end with a 6-4 loss to Oakland in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament on Wednesday afternoon at Granderson Stadium in Chicago. The Crusaders finished the season at 24-29 and will bring back the bulk of their team for the 2018 season. Valpo does bid farewell to five seniors who have been key contributors during their time with the program.

Five Valparaiso University baseball players received recognition on Tuesday as the Horizon League announced its all-league teams and league award winners. Seniors James Stea and Jake Hanson were named to the all-league second team. Stea filled an outfield slot, while Hanson earned the honor at designated hitter.The Crusaders had three players named to the Horizon League all-freshman team – pitcher Jon Tieman, pitcher Easton Rhodehouse and outfielder/DH Christian Barczi.

The Valparaiso University baseball team enters the most important week of the season playing well at the right time. The Crusaders won four of their final five regular season games to latch down the No. 4 seed in this week’s Horizon League Tournament, which will be hosted by UIC at Curtis Granderson Stadium in Chicago.

The Valparaiso University baseball team has announced the cancellation of Saturday’s doubleheader against Milwaukee. The two teams attempted to play the middle game of the series on Friday, but it was pushed back to a Saturday double dip due to steady rain throughout the day. Rain started to fall heavily again on Saturday morning, and was projected to continue for the remainder of the day.

The Valparaiso University baseball team made every effort to play Friday’s scheduled game against Milwaukee, but Mother Nature had other plans. A relentless rain throughout the day rendered baseball impossible, causing the postponement of the game.

Valparaiso University senior Jake Hanson was honored by the Horizon League on Friday as the league announced its 2017 baseball all-academic team. Hanson was one of 14 Horizon League players honored for their success both on the playing field and in the classroom.

The Valparaiso University baseball team notched its fourth win in the last five games on Thursday afternoon at Emory G. Bauer Field. Freshman Christian Barczi (Naperville, Ill. / Naperville North) worked a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth to force in the winning run and send the Crusaders into celebration following a 5-4 victory over Milwaukee. All four Valpo base runners in the ninth came via walks, two of which were intentional.

The Valparaiso University baseball team will close out the regular season with a three-game series at Emory G. Bauer Field beginning on Thursday afternoon as Milwaukee comes to town. Saturday’s game will mark the final Valpo home athletic event of the 2016-2017 academic and athletic year. It’s also Senior Day for the Crusaders as they recognize James Stea, Nate Palace, Mario Losi, Ellis Foreman and Jake Hanson prior to the game.

The stellar performance of Valpo freshman Easton Rhodehouse (Gilbert, Ariz. / Highland) was recognized by the Horizon League as the league unveiled its weekly awards on Monday.

The Valparaiso University baseball team came up on the wrong end of a 2-0 pitchers’ duel in Game 1 of Sunday’s doubleheader against first-place UIC, but the Crusaders bounced back by pulling out a 7-6 victory in a seesaw Game 2 on Sunday at Emory G. Bauer Field. After winning three of four during a difficult stretch of four games in two days in two locations, Valpo has clinched a berth in the upcoming Horizon League Tournament. Freshman Jake Larson kept the Crusaders in the first game with five shutout innings of relief, then classmate Easton Rhodehouse dominated over four perfect frames to earn the win in Game 2.

The Valparaiso University baseball team took a giant step toward securing its place in the upcoming Horizon League Tournament on Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader from Milwaukee at Henry Aaron Field. The Crusaders cruised to an 11-3 win in the opener before holding on for a 7-4 triumph in Game 2. Senior James Stea (Los Alamitos, Calif. / Los Alamitos) homered in both games and also tripled and drove in five in the second game. Valpo can clinch a spot in the league tournament on Sunday with either at least one victory over UIC or at least one Oakland victory over Youngstown State.

The Valparaiso University baseball team will embark upon the final seven-game stretch of the regular season with four games in two days this weekend. The Crusaders finally play Milwaukee for the first time all season with a Saturday doubleheader at Henry Aaron Field, then come home for a double dip with UIC on Sunday. Five teams can finish anywhere from third to seventh in the Horizon League, with everyone fighting to avoid being the one team left out of the league tournament.

The Valparaiso University baseball team has announced that Tuesday’s scheduled game against Purdue has been cancelled due to rain. The game will not be made up.

The Valparaiso University baseball team will renew an in-state rivalry on Tuesday afternoon as the Purdue Boilermakers make their way to Emory G. Bauer Field. It’s the final midweek game of the season and the last nonleague affair of the year. After this tune up, the Crusaders will gear up for the final seven Horizon League games of 2017, an important stretch for league positioning.

The two games of Sunday’s doubleheader represented quite the contrast to one another for the Valparaiso offense. The Crusaders banged out 18 hits on their way to a 13-3 win over Oakland in Game 1, but didn’t save any firepower for Game 2, when they scratched out just one hit and fell 7-0. The games were originally scheduled to take place in Rochester, Mich., but were moved to Emory G. Bauer Field.

The Valparaiso University baseball team received the pleasant surprise of a weekend without leaving town, as Sunday’s doubleheader was moved from Rochester, Mich. to Valpo due to field conditions at Oakland. The Grizzlies took two of three from the Crusaders when they visited Emory G. Bauer Field earlier this season. Oakland will be the home team for both games and have last at-bats.

The Valparaiso University baseball team bounced back from a tough 4-3 loss to Youngstown State in Game 1 to notch a 6-2 victory in the nightcap of Friday’s doubleheader at Emory G. Bauer Field. The Crusaders coughed up a ninth-inning edge in the opener, but rode a strong pitching performance from Jon Tieman to a Game 2 victory.

After dropping two of three to Youngstown State last weekend in Niles, Ohio, the Valparaiso University baseball team still has an opportunity to win the season series as the Crusaders welcome the Penguins to Emory G. Bauer Field for a doubleheader on Friday afternoon. Last weekend, the Crusaders salvaged the series finale against Youngstown State with a 10-7 win on Sunday.

The Valparaiso University baseball team has announced that Sunday’s doubleheader against Oakland scheduled to take place in Rochester, Mich. has been moved to Emory G. Bauer Field.

When the first four Northern Illinois batters of the game drew bases on balls, it looked like it could be a long Wednesday afternoon for the Valparaiso University baseball team. That’s when head coach Brian Schmack summoned Jake Larson from the bullpen. The freshman right-hander delivered 5 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to propel the Crusaders to an 8-2 victory over the Huskies at Emory G. Bauer Field.

The Valparaiso University baseball team has announced that Tuesday’s scheduled game against Northern Illinois has been postponed due to field conditions. The game will be made up on Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Emory G. Bauer Field.

Valparaiso University junior Giovanni Garbella (San Diego, Calif. / Cathedral Catholic) gained attention from the Horizon League office on Monday after his recent trend of success continued this week.

For the third time in the series, the Valparaiso University baseball team engaged in a back-and-forth affair with Youngstown State on Sunday afternoon at Eastwood Field in Niles, Ohio. This time the Crusaders got the last laugh, as Jayden Eggimann belted his first Valpo home run in the top of the ninth, a three-run shot that proved to be the difference in the game.

The Valparaiso University baseball team has announced that the third game of its weekend series at Youngstown State, which was scheduled to take place on Saturday, has been postponed due to inclement weather.The series finale is now set for Sunday at 11 a.m. CT at Eastwood Field in Niles, Ohio.

The Valparaiso University baseball team had late leads in both games of Friday’s doubleheader with Youngstown State at Eastwood Stadium in Niles, Ohio, but the Crusaders couldn’t hold on to the edge in either game. The Penguins walked off with a 6-5 win in the opener, then rallied for five in the eighth to beat the Crusaders 9-7 in Game 2.

The Valparaiso University baseball team will make the longest Horizon League journey this weekend as it heads to Youngstown State for a three-game set with the Penguins. Note that the series schedule has been altered due to weather, as the two teams are now scheduled to play a doubleheader on Friday beginning at 1 p.m. CT. All five of the meetings between the Crusaders and Penguins will occur in an eight-day span, as Valpo and Youngstown State get together next Friday, May 5 for a doubleheader at Emory G. Bauer Field

The Valparaiso University baseball team has announced a schedule change to its series at Youngstown State this weekend. The Crusaders and Penguins will play a doubleheader on Friday at 1 p.m. CT at Eastwood Field due to an unfavorable weather forecast for the remainder of the weekend.

The Valparaiso University baseball team suffered a 10-3 loss to Notre Dame on Tuesday night at Frank Eck Stadium. Giovanni Garbella (San Diego, Calif. / Cathedral Catholic) provided a bright spot for the Crusaders by continuing his recent stretch of offensive success with two doubles.

The Valparaiso University baseball team will make the trip to Notre Dame on Tuesday evening for a midweek meeting with the Fighting Irish. The Crusaders will spend the week away from Emory G. Bauer Field as the Notre Dame game will be followed by a three-game weekend set at Youngstown State.

Fifth-year senior Ellis Foreman (Round Rock, Texas / Stony Point) made his first start of the season one to remember on Sunday afternoon at Emory G. Bauer Field. He shut down perennial Horizon League powerhouse Wright State to the tune of a complete game shutout.

Valparaiso University fifth-year senior Ellis Foreman hadn’t started a game all season, but he sure looked comfortable in a starting role in Game 2 of Sunday’s doubleheader against Wright State at Emory G. Bauer Field. Foreman did make 23 starts over his first four collegiate seasons, but few of them matched the caliber of Sunday’s gem.

The Valparaiso University baseball team will round out its first four-game league weekend of the season with a pair of contests at Emory G. Bauer Field on Sunday afternoon. The Crusaders will look to knock off Wright State after dropping all three games in Dayton earlier this season. The Raiders face a difficult turnaround after playing a home doubleheader then traveling to Valpo on Saturday.

The Valparaiso University baseball team bounced back from a 14-5 loss in Game 1 to salvage a doubleheader split with Northern Kentucky on Friday, winning Game 2 17-4 at Bill Aker Complex in Highland Heights. Sam Shaikin (West Hills, Calif. / Chatsworth) was productive at the plate in both games, Giovanni Garbella (San Diego, Calif. / Cathedral Catholic) collected six RBIs in the second game and freshman Jon Tieman (Crystal Lake, Ill. / Prairie Ridge) earned a win in his first collegiate start.

The Valparaiso University baseball team will have its first four-game weekend of the year, beginning with Friday’s doubleheader at Northern Kentucky. The Crusaders will attempt to continue their success against the Norse after taking two of three against them at Emory G. Bauer Field two weeks ago.

The Valparaiso University baseball team has played the last four games without its most established hitter with first baseman Nate Palace sidelined by an illness, but Giovanni Garbella has helped make sure the offense hasn’t skipped a beat.

The Valparaiso University baseball team couldn’t overcome a nine-run Oakland fourth inning on Saturday afternoon in an eventual 19-9 defeat at Emory G. Bauer Field. It was a day of big innings as the Grizzlies set the tone with four runs in the top of the first, while the Crusaders had a six-run fifth to chip into the large hole created by the nine-run fourth. Chad Jacob had three hits to lead Valpo.

The Valparaiso University baseball team came from behind late for the second straight day, but this time the rally came up shy as Oakland scored three times in the top of the 10th and held on to beat the Crusaders 9-6. The Crusaders plated three runs in the bottom of the ninth to draw even after the Grizzlies had grabbed two insurance tallies in the top of the ninth.

One swing of the bat from senior James Stea altered the complexion of Thursday’s series opener between the Valparaiso University baseball team and visiting Oakland. The Grizzlies played long ball early to build the lead, but it was Stea’s big fly that mattered most as his eighth-inning shot over the left-field fence put the Crusaders up 7-6, a lead they did not relinquish.

The Valparaiso University baseball team will look to put together another winning weekend at Emory G. Bauer Field as it welcomes Oakland to town for a holiday weekend set. The three-game series begins on Thursday and runs through Saturday.

The Valparaiso University baseball team couldn’t keep its run of midweek success alive on Tuesday afternoon in Muncie, Ind., as Ball State defeated the Crusaders 11-2. Valpo received two hits apiece from Chad Jacob, Christian Barczi and Sam Shaikin in the losing effort.

The Valparaiso University baseball team will return to the road as it visits instate foe Ball State in Muncie on Tuesday afternoon. The Crusaders will attempt to remain unbeaten in midweek games as they hold a 5-0 record in midweek affairs entering Tuesday.

Trey Ganns hit three home runs, Northern Kentucky scored multiple runs in six of the nine innings and the Valparaiso University baseball team couldn’t slow down a powerful Norse lineup in an 18-7 loss on a windy Sunday afternoon at Emory G. Bauer Field. The Crusaders (12-17, 3-6 Horizon) still took two of three in the series after Saturday’s doubleheader sweep of the Norse (11-9, 6-3 Horizon).

It wasn’t easy by any means, but the Valparaiso University baseball team pulled off a doubleheader sweep of Northern Kentucky at Emory G. Bauer Field on Saturday. Both games saw the Crusaders build sizeable leads, then hold on for dear life in exhilarating victories. Valpo picked up an 8-7 win in Game 1, before winning the nightcap 10-9.

The Valparaiso University baseball team will finally begin its home slate after starting the season with 26 consecutive road games. The scheduled home opener against Western Michigan on Wednesday was canceled due to inclement weather, then the scheduled series opener on Friday was postponed due to unplayable field conditions. The Crusaders will finally lift the lid on their home season with Saturday's doubleheader.

The Valparaiso University baseball team has announced the postponement of Friday’s scheduled series opener against Northern Kentucky due to unplayable field conditions.

The Valparaiso University baseball team has announced the cancellation of Wednesday’s scheduled game against Western Michigan due to anticipated inclement weather.

It took longer than the regulation nine innings, but the Valparaiso University baseball team grabbed its first one-run win of the season on Tuesday night at Illinois State. A go-ahead bases-loaded walk by Chase Dawson in the top of the 12th helped the Crusaders top the Redbirds 4-3 at Duffy Bass Field. The Crusaders prevailed in a battle of the bullpens that saw both teams go scoreless from the sixth through 12th innings.

The Valparaiso University baseball team rounds out a stretch of 26 straight road games to begin the season on Tuesday evening, then finally opens the home slate, weather permitting, on Wednesday afternoon. The Tuesday trip will be to Normal, Ill. to take on Illinois State, while the Wednesday home affair will welcome Western Michigan to Emory G. Bauer Field. Both games this week feature former Valpo assistant coaches on the opposing staff.

The Valparaiso University baseball team suffered its third straight one-run loss on Sunday afternoon in Wichita, Kan. Travis Young, the same player who lashed a walk-off single to beat the Crusaders on Friday night, struck again. This time he snapped a 3-3 tie in the ninth with a one-out walk-off single to right to give the Shockers a 4-3 victory, their third straight one-run win in the series.

The Valparaiso University baseball team has been competitive over the course of its tough road schedule to start the season, but one-run losses have been a bugaboo for the Crusaders. Valpo suffered its second straight one-run defeat to Wichita State on Saturday afternoon at Eck Stadium, falling to the Shockers by a score of 3-2.

Friday’s game at Eck Stadium featured no shortage of late drama, as the Valparaiso University baseball team put together a thrilling rally for two runs in the top of the ninth to take a 3-2 lead over Wichita State, only to see the Shockers bounce back with two of their own in the bottom of the frame. The game culminated with a two-out, walk-off single through the left side by Travis Young, giving the Shockers a 4-3 win.

The Valparaiso University baseball team steps outside of league play this weekend as the Crusaders visit Missouri Valley Conference foe Wichita State for a three-game series. This is the final weekend nonleague set for Valpo this year.

A strong start by Grant Inman set the stage, three hits by Chad Jacob helped the cause and a scoreless ninth by freshman Jon Tieman sealed the deal as the Valparaiso University baseball team dispatched instate Big 10 foe Purdue 5-1 on Wednesday night in West Lafayette. This marked the first time since 1977 the Crusaders won at Purdue, and they’ve now captured back-to-back wins against the Boilermakers after a triumph at Emory G. Bauer Field last May.

The Valparaiso University baseball team will step outside of Horizon League activity for each of the next six games, a stretch that begins on Wednesday night at Alexander Field in West Lafayette. The Crusaders will attempt to repeat the success they enjoyed a year ago against their in-state Big 10 foe Purdue.

The Valparaiso University baseball team dropped the rubber match of a three-game weekend series at Granderson Stadium 8-1 to UIC on Sunday afternoon. The Flames jumped in front with two runs in the first inning and later pulled away on a pair of late two-run home runs.

The Valparaiso University baseball team bounced back from a Game 1 defeat to split Friday’s doubleheader with a 4-2 win over UIC in Game 2 at Granderson Stadium in Chicago. The Flames held on for a 10-7 win in Game 1 as the Crusaders rallied for six unanswered runs but came up short. The win in the nightcap allowed Valpo (8-12, 1-4 Horizon) to notch its first league win of the season.

After visiting the defending Horizon League champions to open league play at Wright State, another tough test is in store for the Valparaiso University baseball team with this weekend’s series at UIC. The Crusaders and Flames have amended the weekend slate due to the weather forecast and will play a doubleheader on Friday before finishing the series on either Saturday or Sunday.

The Valparaiso University baseball team has altered its schedule for this weekend’s series at UIC based on the weather forecast. The two teams will take advantage of a forecast that features 73-degree temperatures and mostly cloudy skies on Friday by playing a doubleheader instead of the originally-scheduled single game. The twin bill will begin at 12:05 p.m. CT.

After being limited to two total runs in a three-game weekend series at Wright State, the Valparaiso University baseball team made it clear early on that the offensive struggles would end on Tuesday night at Cougar Stadium in Chicago. The Crusaders had three extra-base hits in the opening inning and scored three times to set the tone for an eventual 13-1 rout of Chicago State.

The Valparaiso University baseball team has returned from its spring break trip, but will continue the lengthy season-opening stretch of road games on Tuesday afternoon at Chicago State. The Crusaders and Cougars clash in the first of two midweek showdowns between the two teams this season as Valpo tries to bring its six-game skid to a halt.

The Valparaiso University baseball team dropped both games of a doubleheader at Wright State University’s Nischwitz Stadium on Sunday. A go-ahead, fifth-inning home run by Wright State’s Brandon Giltrow turned the tide in Game 1, an eventual 6-1 victory for the Raiders. Wright State scored early an often in Game 2 and went on to prevail 7-0.

The Valparaiso University baseball team suffered a 2-1 setback to Wright State on Saturday afternoon at Nischwitz Stadium in Dayton, Ohio. Valpo’s Mario Losi and Wright State’s Danny Sexton engaged in a quality pitchers’ duel that was won by Sexton, who tossed a complete game. Losi received no decision despite allowing just one run over seven innings.

The Valparaiso University baseball team’s scheduled game at Wright State on Friday evening has been postponed due to inclement weather.The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday. The schedule for this weekend’s series has been adjusted, with the Horizon League opener now scheduled to begin at noon CT on Saturday at Nischwitz Stadium. The doubleheader is slated to get underway at 10 a.m. CT on Sunday.

The Valparaiso University baseball team will jump right into the Horizon League gauntlet by opposing the defending league champions on the first weekend of conference play. The Crusaders hit the road to face a Wright State team that is the preseason favorite to repeat its league title. The Horizon League season begins at Nischwitz Stadium, the same place last year’s season ended with Valpo falling to Wright State 7-2 in the Horizon League championship game.

A late comeback, strong middle relief work and multi-hit games from three players were not enough for the Valparaiso University baseball team on Sunday afternoon. The Crusaders rallied from down three to tie the game at five, but Joe Genord belted a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth to give USF a 6-5 victory and extend the Bulls’ winning streak to 14.

A big third inning for South Florida doomed the Valparaiso University baseball team on Saturday evening at USF Baseball Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The Bulls tallied five runs in the third to snap a 1-1 tie, then held on for an eventual 8-1 win over the Crusaders.

The Valparaiso University baseball team ran into a red-hot South Florida squad on Friday evening in Tampa as USF pulled away for an 11-2 victory. The Bulls improved to 13-1 and extended their best start in school history, while the Crusaders slipped to 6-6 on the year. Junior Chad Jacob cracked a two-run homer in the ninth that got Valpo on the board.

The Valparaiso University baseball team will look to continue its best start since 1997 as it faces a tough test this weekend at South Florida. USF is off to its best start in program history, winning 12 of its first 13. The last time the Crusaders held a winning record through 11 games, this year’s freshmen were not even born yet. Valpo has won five of its last six.

Valparaiso University sophomore catcher Scott Kapers (Schererville, Ind. / Mount Carmel) was named to the official 2017 Johnny Bench Award Watch list on Thursday. Kapers is one of only two Horizon League players on the list, joining Milwaukee junior Daulton Varsho. The award is given annually to the top Division I collegiate catcher.

A day after coming out on the winning end of a pitchers’ duel, the Valparaiso University baseball team brought the bats on Wednesday afternoon in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The Crusaders busted out for their most productive inning of the season by scoring five times in the fifth and never looked back on their way to a 16-3 rout of Pennsylvania.

Michael Mommersteeg may have been making his first collegiate start, but the freshman southpaw looked like a seasoned veteran on Tuesday afternoon at First Data Field, the Spring Training home of the New York Mets. The Crusaders posted a three-run ninth inning to snap a scoreless tie and held on to beat Pennsylvania 3-0 in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

The Valparaiso University baseball team saw its three-game winning streak snapped on Sunday afternoon at Sessions Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., as the Dolphins held the Crusaders scoreless for the final five innings of a 6-3 Jacksonville victory.

The Valparaiso University baseball team continued its strong start to the season on Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla., putting together some late-inning drama for the second consecutive contest. Valpo trailed 2-1 as late as the eighth inning, but scored a run in the eighth and three more in the ninth to beat the host Dolphins 5-2.

The Valparaiso University baseball team started its spring trip in style on Friday evening in Jacksonville, Fla., prevailing 6-3 in a 10-inning contest. The Crusaders have won back-to-back games, including Friday’s win over an Atlantic Sun contender and strong warm-weather foe.

The Valparaiso University baseball team embarks on its annual spring trip as it heads to Jacksonville, Fla. to meet the Dolphins on Friday evening, the first of eight straight games in the Sunshine State. The Crusaders won’t return to campus until after their first Horizon League series of the year concludes on March 19.

The Valparaiso University baseball team pounded out 15 hits on Sunday afternoon in Birmingham, Ala., as the Crusaders had seven players enjoy multi-hit days in a 9-5 victory over UAB. The win allowed Valpo to salvage one game in the three-game weekend series and achieve a Sunday triumph for the second consecutive week.

Valparaiso University baseball player Nate Palace continued his hot start to his senior campaign by launching a home run, but the remainder of the Crusader battles were quiet in Saturday’s 3-2 loss to UAB at Regions Field in Birmingham, Ala. Easton Rhodehouse (Gilbert, Ariz. / Highland) continued his strong start to the season with 2 2/3 scoreless frames of relief.

The Valparaiso University baseball team entered Friday in a select group of NCAA teams that had not committed an error yet this season, but two miscues in the sixth inning led to two unearned insurance tallies in an eventual 5-1 loss to UAB. The Crusaders (1-3) grabbed an early lead, but their bats were stymied for the rest of the day by UAB (4-1) starter Garrett Whitlock, who went the distance.

The Valparaiso University baseball team will hit the road again this weekend, traveling to the University of Alabama at Birmingham to take on a Blazer team that has won three of its first four games. This marks the second straight series against a team from Conference USA. The series will be played at Regions Field, also the home of the Birmingham Barons, the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.

Sophomore Grant Inman hurled five solid innings, senior Nate Palace launched his first home run of 2017 and freshman Jon Tieman nailed down his first career save as the Valparaiso University baseball team defeated Western Kentucky 5-2 on Sunday afternoon at Nick Denes Field in Bowling Green, Ky. The win marked the first of the season for the Crusaders.

The late innings haunted the Valparaiso University baseball team for the second consecutive day on Saturday afternoon in Bowling Green, Ky. Western Kentucky followed Friday’s walk-off win with another one-run victory, nipping Valpo 4-3 after snapping a 2-2 tie with two runs in the eighth. Junior college transfer Wes Gordon turned in a quality start in his Crusader debut, but received no decision.

The Valparaiso University baseball team came within one out of opening the season with a victory on Friday afternoon in Bowling Green, Ky., but Western Kentucky’s Kaleb Duckworth belted a walk-off home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Hilltoppers a 6-5 victory over the Crusaders.

The Valparaiso University baseball team will begin its annual stretch of road games to start the season as the Crusaders crank up the 2017 campaign on Friday in Bowling Green, Ky. The Crusaders take the diamond against the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky for a three-game weekend series.

Some of the household names of recent years have departed from the Valparaiso University baseball team, but head coach Brian Schmack and his staff enter 2017 optimistic about their chances of putting together another quality season.

The Valparaiso University baseball team has been picked to finish fourth in the Horizon League by a vote of the league’s head coaches.

The Valparaiso University baseball program has released its schedule for the 2017 season. The Crusaders will begin the new campaign on Feb. 17 at Western Kentucky for the first of a three-game series, the first meeting between the two teams since 2002. The series will take place at newly-renovated Nick Denes Field in Bowling Green, Ky.

The Valparaiso University baseball team has inked three players to National Letters of Intent for the 2018 season. Head coach Brian Schmack and his staff will welcome junior college transfer Blake Billinger (Los Gato, Calif. / Mountain West [Mission College]) and true freshmen Zach Orn (Royville, Ind. / Eastside) and Andy Samuelson (LaPorte, Ind. / LaPorte) to the program next year.

With the World Series set to begin on Tuesday night in Cleveland, it’s time for the Valparaiso University baseball team to weigh in. Members of the 2017 Crusaders offer their prognostication of what will unfold this week between the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs.

Valpo senior outfielder Nolan Lodden received co-Horizon League Spring Scholar-Athlete of the Season accolades, as announced by the league office Thursday. Lodden, a First Team Academic All-American, carried a 3.949 grade-point average in the classroom. On the diamond, he led the Crusaders in batting average (.356), hits (83), runs scored (57), doubles (18), and walks (36).

13 Valparaiso University student-athletes earned spots on the Horizon League Spring Academic All-League teams, as announced by the league office today. The men’s track and field team had four honorees from the outdoor season, while the women’s squad had three honorees. Three baseball players earned Academic All-League accolades, while softball, men’s golf and men’s tennis each had one recipient apiece.

The Detroit Tigers selected Dalton Lundeen in the 30th round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft Saturday. Lundeen recorded career podium finishes in all three major pitching categories. His 347 1/3 innings pitched are a program record. His 22 wins tied him with John Grippi for the third-most in Valpo baseball history. Lundeen's 275 strikeouts also rank third in the program's long-standing tradition of pitching excellence.

Senior outfielder Nolan Lodden was elected to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-American First Team on Friday. Lodden amassed a 3.94 grade-point average as an electrical engineering major in the classroom. On the diamond, he tallied team watermarks in hits (83), runs (57), doubles (18), and walks (36) in 2016. This marks the first such honor in program history.

Valpo baseball's first winning season under the Brian Schmack Era came to a close Saturday afternoon at Nischwitz Stadium with a 7-2 loss to the host Wright State Raiders. Chase Dawson, James Stea, Nolan Lodden, and Dan Delaney were all named to the Horizon League All-Tournament Team.

An eighth-inning solo homer off the bat of freshman Scott Kapers resurrected the Brown and Gold, and capped a roaring offensive rebuttal as memorable as it was loud. The Crusaders scored 12 of the game's final 13 runs while the bullpen surrendered a lone unearned run over eight frames in a signature 12-7 victory over Milwaukee Panthers in Game 7 of the Horizon League Baseball Championship.

Facing the possibility of elimination, redshirt junior Ellis Foreman fired seven innings of two-run ball to boost the Valpo baseball team to a 4-2 victory over UIC Thursday night at Nischwitz Stadium in Dayton, Ohio. Nate Palace's two-run double in the first inning put Valpo ahead for good. The triumph prolongs the Crusaders' season to Friday, where they'll face the loser of Wright State versus Milwaukee.

Valpo took a 5-3 lead into the seventh inning of their second-round contest against Milwaukee before the Panthers put together a five-run frame. Nolan Lodden and Dan Delaney each had three-hit games at the dish. The Crusaders will face UIC at 7 pm ET/6 pm CT Thursday in an elimination game.

Rookies Scott Kapers and Chase Dawson combined for a 5-for-5 day at the plate with six runs scored en route to a queasy 10-7 Crusader victory over Northern Kentucky at Nischwitz Stadium in Dayton, Ohio. Dalton Lundeen notched his 22nd career victory for Valpo after going six innings. The Crusaders advance to face the second-seeded Milwaukee Panthers on Thursday at 3 pm ET/2 pm CT.

Six teams will duke it out for an NCAA Tournament berth this week in Dayton, Ohio. The Crusaders enter the Horizon League Championship as the No. 3 seed and will oppose the sixth-seeded Northern Kentucky Norse Wednesday afternoon. The winner will face a rested Milwaukee club Thursday.

Nine Crusaders earned accolades as the Horizon League unveiled its postseason baseball awards Tuesday afternoon. Seniors Dalton Lundeen, Shea Molitor, Nolan Lodden, and Dan Delaney were all First Team recipients. Trevor Haas, Nate Palace, and Josh Clark were elected to the Second Team, while Chase Dawson and Sam Shaikin were named to the All-Freshman Team.

Senior Dalton Lundeen was rewarded for his four-hit shutout of Youngstown State this past Thursday with Horizon League Pitcher of the Week honors. Lundeen lowered his earned-run average to 3.12 while collecting his 21st career win. Lundeen and the Crusaders open the Horizon League Baseball Championship Wednesday versus Northern Kentucky.

On a day when their twelve graduating seniors were honored, the Crusaders received five runs batted in, five runs scored, and a save from their departing class. Valpo rallied in the middle innings to overtake Youngstown State, 7-5, at Emory G. Bauer Field. The Crusaders leapfrogged UIC in the process, seizing the No. 3 seed in next week's Horizon League Championship.

With the help of four double-play balls, senior Trevor Haas improved to 5-0 in Horizon League play Friday as he kept Youngstown State to one run on five hits over six innings in a 6-1 victory. Josh Clark crossed the plate twice as part of a three-hit afternoon. Valpo will recognize its twelve graduating seniors Saturday afternoon prior to the 1:00 pm first pitch.

Left-handed pitcher Dalton Lundeen took to the pitcher's mound at Emory G. Bauer Field for the final time Thursday and reinforced his legacy with a four-hit shutout of visiting Youngstown State. The senior expended 107 pitches for his 21st career victory including his seventh over the Penguins. Offensively, Shea Molitor reached the 50-RBI plateau while James Stea and Chase Dawson enjoyed multi-hit contests.

The regular season wraps up this weekend as Youngstown State visits Emory G. Bauer Field for a three-game series. Valpo can still finish anywhere from second to fifth place in the Horizon League standings. Head coach Brian Schmack will honor all twelve seniors during Saturday’s Senior Day.

An eight-RBI game and eight shutout innings fetched Jake Hanson and Ellis Foreman the Horizon League's weekly baseball awards. Hanson was named Batter of the Week thanks in large part to a career day Sunday. In the second game of a twinbill against Oakland, the catcher hit two doubles and a homer while piling up eight RBIs. Foreman earned the win in that second game after firing eight shutout frames.

Trevor Haas, Jake Hanson, and Ellis Foreman were all magnificent Sunday in a doubleheader sweep of Oakland at Emory G. Bauer Field. Haas improved to 4-1 on the season as he went the distance in the opener to nail down Valpo's 3-2 win. Hanson accumulated eight RBIs in the second game to power the Crusader offense while Foreman notched eight shutout innings in a 17-2 rout.

Valpo whacked 32 hits in a Friday doubleheader with Youngstown State, but managed just a split with the Penguins at Eastwood Field in Niles, Ohio. Dalton Lundeen became Valpo's all-time leader in innings pitched as the senior went seven strong in a 15-7 win in the opener. He also moved into sole possession of third place for most career strikeouts (270) while earning career win No. 20.

Eight days before the curtain descends on the regular season, Valpo and Youngstown State will meet for the first time in 2016 in a Friday doubleheader. Two days later, the Crusaders will return to Emory G. Bauer Field for a Sunday twinbill versus the Oakland Golden Grizzlies.

Dan Delaney delivered a pair of three-run homers in a 13-10 victory over visiting Purdue on Wednesday. The senior struck in the third and sixth innings to help the Crusaders snap a seven-game slide. Delaney reached the 40-RBI plateau in Valpo's final midweek tilt of the season.

Josh Clark and Dan Delaney cracked homers Sunday, but Northern Kentucky erased deficits in both games of a doubleheader with the Crusaders. Seven Valpo errors resulted in 12 unearned runs crossing the plate for the Norse. The Crusaders return to the diamond Wednesday afternoon when Purdue visits Emory G. Bauer Field.

Wright State ascertained its lead in the Horizon League standings Friday with a doubleheader sweep of the Valpo baseball team. Nolan Lodden reached base in all four of his plate appearances in the opener while Nate Palace did so in all five of his trips to the plate in the second game.

Outfielder Nolan Lodden was named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District Team for District V Friday. The senior carries a 3.94 grade-point average as an electrical engineering major. On the field, Lodden boasts a team-high .353 batting average and has reached base in 31 consecutive games entering this weekend.

Another four Horizon League games await the Valpo baseball team this weekend. Valpo heads to Dayton to take on first-place Wright State in a Friday twinbill. The Brown and Gold will then return to Porter County to prepare for a Sunday doubleheader with Northern Kentucky.

Scott Kapers and Shea Molitor belted home runs as part of a 13-hit barrage Wednesday, but Northern Illinois rallied for seven runs in the ninth inning to overthrow Valpo, 11-10. Nolan Lodden, Josh Clark, and Nate Palace each went 2-for-4 with two RBIs in the Crusaders' final midweek game away from Emory G. Bauer Field this season.

Valpo managed to score in just one of its 18 offensive innings Sunday as UIC defeated the Brown and Gold in both tilts of a doubleheader at Emory G. Bauer Field. The pair of Flame victories created a tie for second place in the Horizon League standings between Valpo and UIC.

Rain has caused the postponement of Saturday's baseball game between Valpo and UIC. The two teams will now play two games on Sunday beginning at 12 pm CT.

Valpo had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the ninth when UIC reliever Trevor Lane uncorked a wild pitch allowing James Stea to hightail it home for a 2-1 victory Friday at Emory G. Bauer Field. Crusader starting pitcher Dalton Lundeen took a perfect game into the sixth inning in an outing that moved him into second place for career innings pitched at Valparaiso.

Just five of Valpo’s final twelve Horizon League tilts are against opponents predicted to finish in the top half of the standings, and three of those occur this weekend at Emory G. Bauer Field. UIC, which sits one game back of Valpo in the standings, takes a 9-18 road record into Friday’s opener. Crusader outfielder Nolan Lodden is currently riding a 27-game on-base streak.

The Valpo baseball team erased a three-run deficit thanks to nine fourth-inning tallies in a 12-4 win over Chicago State Tuesday afternoon at Emory G. Bauer Field. Every Crusader starter crossed home plate while freshman Grant Inman notched his first collegiate victory. The triumph improved Valpo's record to 19-18.

Sophomore Giovanni Garbella's first-inning grand slam highlighted a 10-run opening frame as the Valpo baseball team cruised to a 17-6 victory over Purdue North Central Monday afternoon at Emory G. Bauer Field. Josh Clark and Shea Molitor also went yard in the Crusaders' highest outpouring of runs all season.

Valpo scored nine runs from the sixth inning on Saturday as it rattled off a pair of come-from-behind wins in a doubleheader sweep of Milwaukee at Emory G. Bauer Field. Trevor Haas fired a 128-pitch complete game in the opener before Jake Hanson's two-run single capped off a 7-6 win in the second tilt. Freshman shortstop Sam Shaikin was 5-for-7 in the twinbill.

Senior Dalton Lundeen leapfrogged two former Crusader hurlers Friday to move into fourth place in career strikeouts as he fanned eight UIC batters in the opening game of Valpo's doubleheader against the Flames. The Brown and Gold dropped the first tilt 5-3, but rallied to earn the split by virtue of a 5-2 victory in the second contest. Mario Losi did not allow an earned run in 6 2/3 innings of work to notch his third win.

The Crusaders enter a kooky corridor of their Horizon League schedule as four games await them in a 27-hour span. The owners of 7-4 league records, UIC and Valpo will square off Friday in a doubleheader at Curtis Granderson Stadium. The Crusaders will then have to turn around and host Milwaukee, a team one-half game behind them in the standings, in another twinbill Saturday in Valparaiso.

For the third time in its last four games, Valpo rode double-digit runs to a victory. The Crusaders accrued 15 hits in a 10-6 win over Chicago State on Wednesday at Cougar Stadium. Nolan Lodden finished a home run shy of the cycle as his 3-for-6 afternoon yielded five RBIs. Lodden is now batting .370 on the season.

Eleven hits and eleven runs batted in last week fetched senior infielder Shea Molitor Horizon League Batter of the Week honors. Molitor boosted his batting average from .330 to .362 following his five-game offensive onslaught. Four of his eleven hits went for extra bases: three doubles and a grand slam. Molitor now leads the Crusaders in the RBI department with 30.

Senior Trevor Haas was chosen as a nominee for Horizon League Pitcher of the Week Monday following his first career shutout on Saturday at Oakland. The righty required just 92 tosses and needed no help closing out an 11-0 victory over the Golden Grizzlies. Haas scattered five hits (all singles) and struck out four batters without issuing a walk. Oakland did not have a base runner advance past first base until the ninth inning.

Four Crusader errors generated three unearned runs in a 5-3 loss to the Golden Grizzlies Sunday at Oakland Baseball Field. Shea Molitor drove in all three Valpo runs, but a three-run home run by Oakland's Mike Brosseau proved to be the game winner.

A sensational breakout season for Trevor Haas found its defining chapter Saturday at Oakland Baseball Field. The senior was flat-out dominant in a five-hit shutout of the Golden Grizzlies. Haas needed only 92 pitches to earn his second win of the season, lower his earned-run average to 2.40, and more importantly, secure the series win for the Crusaders. Offensively, Nolan Lodden and Nate Palace went yard in the 11-0 victory.

Shea Molitor's ninth-inning grand slam ensured fellow senior Dalton Lundeen would get the win on a day where the left-hander joined elite company. Lundeen became one of just four pitchers in program history to log 300 innings after tossing 6 2/3 IP in Valpo's 10-4 win over Oakland on Friday. Lundeen also took over sole possession of fourth place for most career wins (19).

The Crusaders trek to Michigan for the second and final time in 2016 this weekend when Oakland greets Valpo in a three-game series at Oakland Baseball Field. The two teams are currently in a logjam for third place in the Horizon League standings.

The Valpo baseball team dropped a 3-1 affair to the Fighting Irish Wednesday night at Frank Eck Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana. Josh Clark, Shea Molitor, Scott Kapers, and Nolan Lodden were responsible for the four Crusader hits. Kapers threw out another two base runners to raise his total this week to five.

The Valpo baseball team finished one knock shy of its fourth consecutive 14-hit performance Tuesday afternoon in an 8-4 victory at Western Michigan. Shea Molitor accumulated four hits as he was one of six Crusaders to record a run batted in. Freshman Scott Kapers gunned down three potential base stealers behind the plate.

Valpo's baseball game Saturday at Eastern Michigan has been cancelled due to inclement weather. The Crusaders will return to the diamond Tuesday at Western Michigan at 3 pm ET/2 pm CT, weather permitting.

For the fourth time in nine days, the Valpo baseball schedule has been adversely affected by weather. Friday's contest between the Crusaders and Eastern Michigan has been cancelled due to unplayable conditions at Emory G. Bauer Field. The two clubs hope to meet Saturday in Ypsilanti, as previously scheduled.

A weather forecast calling for rain throughout the day in the South Bend area has prompted the postponement of Wednesday's baseball game between Notre Dame and Valpo. The two teams will instead meet next Wednesday: same time, same place.

The Valpo baseball team lumped five extra-base hits with a 7-for-18 mark with runners in scoring position to overtake the visiting Illinois State Redbirds 8-6 at Emory G. Bauer Field on Tuesday afternoon. Nolan Lodden lacked just a home run for the cycle while Giovanni Garbella drove in three teammates. Six Crusader pitches combined to pile up 16 strikeouts.

It'll be a family affair for Shea and Blake Molitor when they square off against one another Tuesday at Emory G. Bauer Field. Teammates two seasons ago at Des Moines Area CC, the twin brothers will be in opposite dugouts in a midweek tilt between Valpo and Illinois State. One day later, the Crusaders will head to Notre Dame to continue their long-running series with the Irish in a 6:05 pm ET/5:05 pm CT first pitch.

With a 5-0 lead entering the fifth inning, Valpo was closing in on a sweep of Milwaukee at Kapco Park in Mequon, Wisconsin on Sunday. However, the Panthers rallied to seize a 6-5 win in the nightcap. Lundeen limited the Panthers to just one earned run over eight innings to notch his third win of the season in the first game. The Crusaders won the opener, 7-3.

Mother Nature threw another wrench in Valpo and Milwaukee's weekend plans on Saturday. Two inches of snow coupled with heavy winds forced the cancellation of Saturday's game at Henry Aaron Field. The Crusaders and Panthers are now scheduled to play a doubleheader Sunday at Kapco Park in nearby Mequon. First pitch is slated for 12 pm CT.

Valpo's series opener at Milwaukee has been postponed due to unplayable field conditions at Henry Aaron Field. The Crusaders and Panthers will now play a doubleheader Sunday beginning at 11 am CT.

The Crusaders begin their first of eight straight Horizon League games away from Emory G. Bauer Field Friday in Milwaukee when the Panthers host Valpo in a three-game series. Senior starting pitcher Dalton Lundeen needs 3 2/3 innings to move into sole possession of 5th place in Valpo history for career innings pitched (currently at 282.2 IP).

Rain in the West Lafayette, Indiana area spoiled Valpo and Purdue's plans for Wednesday night. The two teams were slated to play a 6:00 pm ET/5:00 pm CT affair at Alexander Field, but inclement weather prompted a cancellation.

Valpo led visiting Ball State for five innings on Tuesday, but a two-run homer helped the Cardinals to a 3-2 victory at Emory G. Bauer Field. Ellis Foreman spotted the Cards just one earned run in 5 1/3 innings, but an offensive lull in the middle frames hamstrung the Brown and Gold.

Bragging rights are up for grabs this week as the Valpo baseball team faces a pair of Indiana schools in midweek, non-league play. The Crusaders will host Ball State Tuesday at 3:00 pm at Emory G. Bauer Field before traveling to West Lafayette Wednesday evening to take on the Purdue Boilermakers.

Trailing by a run and down to its final out with the bases empty, the Valpo baseball team pulled off an improbable 3-2 comeback win over Wright State in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday at Emory G. Bauer Field. The Raiders salvaged a split, however, taking the afternoon tilt, 7-3. Junior Nate Palace was 4-for-6 with an RBI in his return to the Crusader lineup.

Senior Nolan Lodden reached base four times in his debut in the leadoff spot of the Valpo batting order, but Wright State scored in each of the last five innings to record a 9-6 series-opening win over the Crusaders Friday afternoon at Emory G. Bauer Field. Josh Clark, Shea Molitor, and James Stea each had multi-hit days at the plate.

After opening the season with 18 road games, Valpo returns to Emory G. Bauer Field to pop the top on the 2016 home slate. The Crusaders welcome Wright State to town for a single game Friday and a Saturday twinbill. Like Valpo, the Raiders recorded a sweep in their opening weekend of Horizon League action.

A 6-for-12 weekend at the plate accented by six runs batted in, two doubles, and a pair of stolen bases fetched Valpo outfielder Nolan Lodden Horizon League Batter of the Week honors, as announced by the league office Monday afternoon. Lodden boosted his average from .312 to a team-high .356 during the Crusaders' three-game sweep of the Northern Kentucky Norse this past weekend in Highland Heights.

Mario Losi got all the run support he needed and more Sunday afternoon in a 16-1 victory over Northern Kentucky at Bill Aker Baseball Complex in Highland Heights. Valpo set season watermarks in runs and hits (19) while the junior right-hander limited the Norse to one run over six innings for his second win of the season.

The Valpo baseball team manufactured five runs on eight hits over the final three innings of Saturday's game at Bill Aker Baseball Complex in Highland Heights to roll to a 6-4 victory over Northern Kentucky. Trevor Haas yielded three earned runs in 7 1/3 innings of work to earn his first win of the season. Dan Delaney went yard again to provide the Crusaders with a key insurance run in the ninth inning.

A successful suicide squeeze play in the 10th inning lifted the Valpo baseball team to a 5-4 victory Friday at Bill Aker Baseball Complex in Highland Heights, Kentucky. Dan Delaney and Josh Clark hit back-to-back home runs in the eighth to help propel the Crusaders to a win in their Horizon League opener.

Horizon League baseball touches down in Highland Heights, Kentucky for the first time this weekend when Valpo visits NKU in a three-game series. Staff ace Dalton Lundeen shoots for his tenth career win in league play in Friday’s 2:00 pm opener at Bill Aker Baseball Complex.

The Valpo baseball team will be hosting a spring youth camp on Sunday, April 10th at Emory G. Bauer Field. Led by the Crusader coaching staff and players, the three-hour camp will focus on skill development and competition. Any interested participants between the ages of 7 and 13 are encouraged to email assistant coach Nic Mishler at Nicolais.Mishler@valpo.edu

Valpo was in the process of digging itself out of a six-run hole in the top of the sixth Saturday at Dallas Baptist, but a line drive to third base turned into an inning-ending double play. The Crusaders settled for two runs in the frame, but the Patriots answered with three in the bottom half of the inning to secure a 9-2 win over the Brown and Gold at Horner Field in Dallas, Texas.

Senior starting pitcher Dalton Lundeen silenced a potent Dallas Baptist offense Friday, scattering four hits over nine dominant innings. He took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, leading the Crusaders to a 6-1 win at Horner Field. Lundeen fired first-pitch strikes to 75% of the Patriots he faced as the southpaw racked up seven strikeouts.

Junior Jake Hanson broke a scoreless tie in the top of the 7th with an RBI single, but Dallas Baptist answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half to steal a 2-1 win over the Crusader baseball team Thursday evening at Horner Field in Texas. Trevor Haas yielded just two runs in 6 1/3 innings in his rotation debut.

Valpo hurler Ellis Foreman turned in a quality start against a proficient Dallas Baptist offense Wednesday, but the Patriots touched up the Crusader bullpen for seven runs over the final two frames in a 10-4 win over the visiting Brown and Gold. Freshman Scott Kapers drove in two runs and Josh Clark boosted his season average to .340 after a 3-for-4 night at the plate.

Valpo returns to the Lone Star State for the second time in three years as it readies for a four-game series with Dallas Baptist. The Patriots have made five NCAA appearances including a cameo in the 2011 Super Regionals. Texas native Ellis Foreman will get the start in Wednesday’s opener.

In light of Tuesday's cancellation of its contest against Grambling State, Valpo will play four games at Dallas Baptist. The two teams agreed to add a Wednesday tilt to the series, now making it a four-game set. Wednesday's affair will begin at 6:30 pm CT.

Dalton Lundeen's series-opening victory over Louisiana Tech landed the senior Horizon League Pitcher of the Week honors. Lundeen earned his first victory of 2016 last Friday when he limited the Bulldogs to three runs over seven innings of work. The left-hander punched out six batters, and did not issue a walk for the second consecutive outing.

Grambling State's baseball field was not quite ready for play just yet. As a result, Valpo's Tuesday tilt versus the Tigers was cancelled. The two teams attempted to find an alternative venue and time, but a suitable arrangement could not be made. The Crusaders will trek on to Texas where they will close out their spring trip with a three-game set at Dallas Baptist beginning Thursday.

A Crusader defense that had patched together a 25-inning errorless streak committed two critical miscues in the eighth inning of a 7-5 loss to Louisiana Tech on Sunday afternoon. The gaffes allowed the Bulldogs to score five runs in their final at-bat and clinch the series victory. The loss spoiled a strong outing from Mario Losi, who yielded just two runs in seven innings of work.

Shea Molitor drove in a pair of runs for the Crusaders Saturday, but Louisiana Tech tagged Valpo starter Ryan Fritze for six early runs en route to a 7-2 win over the Brown and Gold at J.C. Love Field in Ruston, Louisiana. Junior Mario Losi will take the mound Sunday as Valpo goes for the series win at 1:00 pm CT.

Fresh off a 3-2 win Wednesday over #12 Arkansas in Fayetteville, Louisiana Tech returned home with a collective 3.39 earned run average and a .320 batting average. Valpo ace Dalton Lundeen greeted the Bulldogs by spotting them just three runs over seven strong innings while the Crusader offense racked up ten hits in an 8-3 win versus LA Tech in the series opener.

After splitting a two-game set with ULM this past week, Valpo hopscotches over to Ruston to take on an accomplished Louisiana Tech squad. The Bulldogs, who are averaging 7.6 runs/game through their first eight contests, return home after defeating #12 Arkansas, 3-2, Wednesday in Fayetteville.

Nolan Lodden's two-run single in the top of the 10th inning provided the Valpo baseball team with its second of the win season as the senior's go-ahead knock masked a seven-spot in the visitor's error column. The Crusaders prevailed for a courageous 9-6 victory in extra innings, salvaging a series split with ULM. The leadoff-through-cleanup spots of the Valpo batting order combined to go 9-for-19 with six runs scored and six runs batted in.

The Crusader baseball team was engaged in a slugfest with University of Louisiana Monroe Tuesday night at Warhawk Field before ULM scored eight unearned runs to seal an 18-9 victory. Dan Delaney, Josh Clark, Scott Kapers, Chase Dawson, and Luke Syens all had multi-hit games for Valpo.

Junior Nate Palace cranked a pair of home runs and Shea Molitor corked a three-run triple Sunday, but New Orleans rallied for a 9-8 victory over the Crusaders at Maestri Field. For Palace, it was his second career multi-HR day at the plate.

Senior Josh Clark (Granada Hills, Calif./Hillcrest Christian [Riverside City]) tomahawked two hits, scored a run, and drove another in on Saturday, but a three-run bottom of the third proved pivotal in a 5-3 loss to New Orleans.

University of New Orleans starting pitcher Shawn Semple limited the Valpo offense to just two hits in 6 1/3 innings of work in Friday's series opener at Maestri Field in Louisiana. Freshman Sam Shaikin reached base twice and Jeff Edwards was 1-for-3 at the plate, but the Privateers emerged with a 9-0 win over the Crusaders.

Valpo kicks off a 39-hour, 2,477-mile road trip Friday in the French Quarter with a three-game series versus University of New Orleans. After their meeting with the Privateers, the Crusaders will stay in Louisiana to visit UL-Monroe for a pair before taking on Louisiana Tech for three.

Seven Crusaders enjoyed multi-hit games as Valpo defeated Jacksonville State 14-4 at Rudy Abbott Field on Sunday. Junior Mario Losi earned the win as the right-hander did not walk a batter in six innings of four-run ball. Shea Molitor's bases-clearing double in the first inning got things rolling. The Crusaders scored 18 third-inning runs in the series.

The Valpo baseball team hung a seven spot in the top of the third inning at Rudy Abbott Field Saturday, but Jacksonville State manufactured nine runs thereafter to record an 11-10 walk-off win. Nate Palace launched his first home run of the season while leadoff man James Stea went 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored.

The Valpo baseball team broke a scoreless tie in the third inning, but the Gamecocks roared back with four of their own and went on to win 9-3 at Rudy Abbott Field in Jacksonville, Alabama. James Stea and Jeff Edwards recorded multi-hit games while Dan Delaney drove in two runs.

In his third season as head coach, Brian Schmack returns an entire weekend rotation and a core chunk of the club's 2015 lineup. Behind Dalton Lundeen, Nate Palace, Nolan Lodden, and Dan Delaney, the Crusaders expect to be in the thick of things in Horizon League play in 2016.

Nolan Lodden, Dalton Lundeen, Nate Palace, and Bryce Yoder were all recognized Wednesday when the Horizon League released its 2016 Preseason Baseball All-League Team and Coaches Poll. No team received more All-League nods than Valpo. The Crusaders were selected third in the survey of head coaches, two points behind UIC and one ahead of Milwaukee.

Nate Palace and Nolan Lodden were tabbed as College Sports Madness Preseason All-First Team selections while seniors Dalton Lundeen, Ryan Fritze, and Daniel Delaney were named Second Teamers in the 2016 survey. The five selections equaled the most of any Horizon League club with the exception of Wright State.

Head baseball coach Brian Schmack announced Wednesday that longtime Major League Baseball manager and Valpo alum Lloyd McClendon will serve as guest speaker at the 6th Annual Crusader Baseball Bash to be held on Saturday, January 23rd inside the Aberdeen Manor Ballroom. Children 13 and under can get in for $35 while adult tickets cost $40. For more information, email Brian.Schmack@valpo.edu.

Head baseball coach Brian Schmack unveiled one of the largest recruiting classes in program history Thursday. Schmack welcomes ten student-athletes from six different states. The class, which consists of four pitchers, two infielders, two outfielders, a catcher, and a utility player, will arrive to Valpo for the 2016-17 season.

The 100th anniversary of Valpo's inaugural baseball season will get underway on Feb. 19th against Jacksonville State while the home opener is scheduled for Mar. 24th versus Wright State. Non-league contests versus Dallas Baptist, Notre Dame, Purdue, and Illinois State highlight an ambitious 2016 slate.

Assistant baseball coach Nic Mishler announced the details and dates for the "Sader Skill & Strength Sharpening Academy" set to begin Monday, Nov. 18th at the team's indoor hitting facility. The camp, which will run every Monday and Wednesday until Dec. 21st, will focus on fundamentals, arm strength, bat speed, and foot speed. Email Nicolas.Mishler@valpo.edu to register today!

Ping pong tables, bro tanks, and Trevor Haas tickling the ivories are all showcased in this week's edition of Talkin' Schmack as Haas and fellow pitcher Dalton Lundeen take viewers around the Harre Union.

Our star of the show sits down with assistant baseball coach Luke Gore to talk life, basketball, and Valparaiso University in this week's episode of Talkin' Schmack.

A recent alum checks in with head coach Brian Schmack in this week's episode of Talkin' Schmack. Viewers also get a behind-the-scenes look at the team's clubhouse, locker room, and indoor hitting facility. Click the video to hear from the skipper and see the guided tour.

Head baseball coach Brian Schmack has announced Saturday, October 10th as the date for the 2015 Baseball Golf Scramble held at The Course at Aberdeen. Prizes for longest drive, closest to the pin, and more will be awarded at the event.

Orville Redenbacher, bunt defense, and the mind-reading of a high-ranking Valpo Athletics official are all discussed in this week's episode of Talkin' Schmack. Click the video to get a full recap!

This week's installment of Talkin' Schmack takes fans through a day in the life of senior outfielder Josh Clark. Schmack also reminisces on the summer he spent working at a tire factory in the Question of the Week segment.

Head baseball coach Brian Schmack announced Monday that the team is holding walk-on tryouts for the 2016 team on Wednesday, Sept. 2nd. Prospective players are required to complete a pre-participation physical exam form, have had a physical exam in the past year and ability to provide either sickle cell results or a signed waiver. For more information, contact assistant coach Ben Wolgamot at 219-464-5239.

15 Valparaiso student-athletes earned spots on the Horizon League Spring Academic All-League teams, as announced by the league office this morning. Men’s outdoor track and field had five athletes honored, while baseball, men’s golf and women’s outdoor track and field each had three selections to go with one from men’s tennis.

The Chicago White Sox selected junior right-handed pitcher Drew Hasler in the 34th round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday. The selection represents the sixth draft pick in the last six years for Valpo and the 21st in school history.

Junior starting pitcher Dalton Lundeen was named to the Horizon League All-Tournament Team on Saturday. The left-hander tossed a 141-pitch shutout of Youngstown State in Valpo's 8-0 victory in the opening game of the Horizon League Baseball Championship on Wednesday. Lundeen finished 2015 with a 3.75 earned run average and five wins for the third consecutive season.

Valpo and Milwaukee entered the fifth inning tied 2-2, but the Panther offense erupted for a dozen runs in three frames as part of a 14-2 win over the Brown and Gold. Seniors Spencer Mahoney and Mark Johnson both went 1-for-3 with a run scored. Mahoney set the school record for career walks in the second inning with a five-pitch free pass.

The Valparaiso Crusaders plated four runs in the latter innings of Thursday morning's contest against UIC, but it wasn't enough as the Flames hung on for an 8-5 win over the Brown and Gold at Oil City Stadium in Whiting, Indiana. Valpo will face Milwaukee at 7:00 p.m. CT in a win-or-go-home contest.

On the back of their ace Dalton Lundeen, the Crusaders recorded an 8-0 win over Youngstown State in the opening game of the Horizon League Championship Wednesday afternoon at Oil City Stadium in Whiting, Indiana. The junior scattered seven hits, struck out seven, and walked two en route to his second shutout in his last four starts.

The Horizon League descends upon Northwest Indiana this week as an NCAA Tournament berth is up for grabs at Oil City Stadium. Fourth-seeded Valpo will host the fifth-seeded Youngstown State Penguins in the opening game at 12 p.m. CT. The Crusaders will send Dalton Lundeen to the hill as he shoots for his fifth win of 2015.

The Horizon League announced its postseason baseball awards Tuesday. Nate Palace, Spencer Mahoney, Nolan Lodden, Giovanni Garbella, and Chad Jacob were the five Crusaders that earned All-League distinction. For Mahoney, this marks the second time he has received Horizon League postseason accolades.

Valpo dropped a 6-2 contest to Wright State in the regular season finale at Nischwitz Stadium in Dayton on Saturday. Spencer Mahoney moved to within two walks of the school record for bases on balls in a career while fellow senior Mark Johnson enjoyed a 2-for-3 day at the dish.

Wright State used a trio of sacrifice flies en route to a 4-1 victory over Valpo at Nischwitz Stadium in Dayton, Ohio on Friday night. Josh Clark and Daniel Delaney led the offensive attack for the Crusaders with two hits apiece.

Dalton Lundeen allowed just two earned runs in 7 1/3 innings Thursday, but Valpo made one too many miscues in its series opener against Wright State on at Nischwitz Stadium in Dayton, Ohio. Chad Jacob went 2-for-4 while senior Kyle Schneider provided an RBI double in the Crusader half of the fourth.

With the Horizon League regular season wrapping up this weekend, four of the six seeds have yet to be determined for next week’s postseason tournament. A Valpo sweep of Wright State would earn the Crusaders the No. 2 spot - and a highly-coveted first-round bye. At 13-13 in League play, Milwaukee is still in the Brown and Gold’s rear-view mirror for third place.

After trailing 6-0 following the top of the 3rd, Valpo managed to put the tying run in scoring position in the bottom of the 9th. However, Purdue reliever Matt Frawley recorded the final two outs of the game via strikeout to preserve a 6-4 Boilermaker victory. Spencer Mahoney led the Crusader offense with three hits.

Junior Ryan Fritze was rewarded for his seven shutout innings against Youngstown State on Sunday with a Horizon League Pitcher of the Week award on Monday. Fritze did not allow a hit until the fifth inning as he scattered three hits and punched out a season-high nine batters.

In their final weekend game of the season at Emory G. Bauer Field, the Valparaiso Crusaders received Ryan Fritze's most dominant start since joining the Brown and Gold. The right-hander scattered three hits over seven shutout innings as Valpo took the rubber game, 5-0, over visiting Youngstown State.

Senior Kyle Schneider went 4-for-6 in Saturday's doubleheader versus Youngstown State, including two runs batted in in the nightcap to propel Valpo to a 4-3 win. The Penguins collected a 5-2 win in the opener behind seven shutout innings from lefty Joe King.

Afternoon storms forced the postponement of Friday's single game versus Youngstown State. The teams will now play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 11:00 a.m. CT. Head coach Brian Schmack will honor Valpo's six seniors prior to first pitch of Game 1.

Saturday's Senior Day highlights this weekend’s series at Emory G. Bauer Field as the curtain begins to descend on the 2015 home slate. Seeding for the Horizon League Championship is still very much up in the air with six conference games to play. Valpo has historically fared well against YSU (28-3 in last 31 contests), but the Penguins have been playing .500 baseball since April 2nd.

With the clock reading 7:31 pm local time and the sun setting on a rustic Emory G. Bauer Field, Jeff Edwards cracked an opposite-field, 13th-inning single to score Giovanni Garbella and break a 7-7 tie. Spencer Mahoney tallied four hits as he was one of four Crusaders to record three or more hits.

The southpaw was named Horizon League Pitcher of the Week Monday following his three-hit shutout of Milwaukee this past weekend. Lundeen, the 2014 Co-Pitcher of the Year, struck out five Panthers while walking just one in a 117-pitch gem on Friday afternoon. This represents his third career Pitcher of the Week honor.

Freshman Giovanni Garbella laced his first career round-tripper in the home half of the seventh to draw Valpo within one run, but Panther catcher Daulton Varsho's ninth-inning two-run homer provided the insurance necessary for Milwaukee as the visitors notched an 8-6 win over the Crusaders in Sunday's series finale at Emory G. Bauer Field.

Spencer Mahoney enjoyed another three-hit afternoon, but Milwaukee plated four runs in the final two innings en route to an 8-5 win over Valpo at Emory G. Bauer Field on Saturday. The series will be decided Sunday afternoon in a 12:00 pm first pitch.

Spencer Mahoney's solo shot on the first pitch of the day from UWM starter Brian Keller was all Dalton Lundeen needed as the junior spun a three-hit shutout in Valpo's 6-0 series-opening win over Milwaukee at Emory G. Bauer Field on Friday. Mahoney registered his 200th career hit in the fourth with an infield single. He finished the day 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two runs batted in.

Milwaukee brings one of the league’s best pitching staffs into Emory G. Bauer Field this weekend for a key Horizon League series. Two games separate the Crusaders and Panthers for third place in the Horizon League standings. Furthermore, two games separate Valpo from second-place Wright State within a crowded leaderboard.

A barrage of two-out hits catapulted Northern Illinois to a 5-3 win over Valpo on Wednesday afternoon at Ralph McKinzie Field in DeKalb. Crusader starter Drew Hasler was coasting through the sixth inning until four straight singles resulted in a 2-0 deficit ballooning to 5-0. Dustin Beasley (2-for-4) recorded the Brown and Gold's lone extra-base hit, a double in the visitor's half of the second inning.

Spencer Mahoney's 198th career hit lifted Valpo to a 2-1 win in 11 innings over Chicago State on Tuesday afternoon. The RBI single came with two outs to crack a tied game that had been 1-1 since the visitor's half of the seventh.

The Crusaders kept the hit parade going Sunday as they parlayed 13 hits into six runs in a 6-2 win in the series finale at Oakland. Spencer Mahoney and Jeff Edwards slugged three hits each while Ryan Fritze limited the Golden Grizzly offense to two runs over seven innings. Valpo improved to 12-8 in Horizon League play after the series win.

Seven Crusaders enjoyed multi-hit games at the plate while Mario Losi delivered seven innings of one-run ball in a 14-1 walloping of Oakland on Saturday. Freshman Giovanni Garbella drove in a game-high three runs in just his third collegiate start. The Crusaders and Golden Grizzlies will meet in the rubber game Sunday at 1 p.m. ET/12 p.m. CT.

The Crusaders scored all six of their runs between the 6th and 8th innings of Friday's opener against Oakland, but 15 hits fueled the Golden Grizzlies in an 8-6 win over Valpo. Nolan Lodden enjoyed his 14th multi-hit game of the season with a 3-for-5 afternoon at the plate.

With first place still within reach, the Crusaders head to Michigan to improve upon their 10-7 record in Horizon League play. Dalton Lundeen (3-4, 4.76) will take the ball in Friday's 2:00 pm CT opener in search of his first win away from home. The junior struck out 10 Golden Grizzlies while allowing just one earned run in a complete game effort two weeks ago at Emory G. Bauer Field. Live video is available for all three games.

The Crusaders were 4-for-26 with runners in scoring position on the day, but a two-run double from Daniel Delaney and a two-run single by Shea Molitor helped the Brown and Gold to a 5-4 win in the opening game of a doubleheader at Emory G. Bauer Field. Valpo stranded 14 runners on base in a 4-1 loss in the nightcap.

A pair of five-run frames was more than enough for the Flames as UIC cruised to a 12-3 win over Valpo on Friday afternoon at Emory G. Bauer Field. Due to a chance of rain on Sunday, the teams will complete the series Saturday in a doubleheader beginning at 11:00 am CT.

The second half of the Horizon League schedule launches this weekend and Emory G. Bauer will play host to a dandy. First-place UIC will make the short trip over from Chicago to take on Valpo, who enters the three-game series 1.5 games behind the Flames. The Crusaders boast a 7-1 home record.

Western Michigan limited Valpo to just five hits in a 6-1 defeat of the Crusaders at Robert J. Bobb Stadium in Kalamazoo on Tuesday afternoon. Nolan Lodden collected his 29th RBI of the season while Drew Hasler threw six innings of two-run ball in the loss.

Crusaders turn a triple play in the seventh inning, Mahoney becomes the all-time assists leader, and Nate Palace rocketed his seventh home run of the season - all in a 3-hour, 45-minute 15-7 win over the Oakland Golden Grizzlies to complete the three-game sweep.

The Valparaiso baseball program announced plans for its 2015 Prospect Camp on Monday. The single-day camp will be held on June 9th from 9:00am CT until 4:30pm CT at Emory G. Bauer Field. The camp is open to any and all entrants (limited only by number, age, and/or grade level).

Oakland put the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the 9th, but Bryce Yoder nailed down his fourth save of the season to safeguard an 8-7 win for the Brown and Gold on Saturday afternoon at Emory G. Bauer Field. Spencer Mahoney sent a two-run shot over the right-field wall for his first home run of the season. Daniel Delaney went 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored.

Dalton Lundeen threw a career-high 136 pitches to earn his first complete game victory of 2015 as he dispelled Oakland 9-3 on Friday afternoon at Emory G. Bauer Field. Nate Palace and Daniel Delaney had two runs batted in apiece as the former went yard for his sixth home run of the season.

After playing their last five away from Emory G. Bauer Field, the Crusaders return home to host the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in a three-game series this weekend. Friday's series opener begins an enticing stretch of the schedule that has the Crusaders playing 15 of their next 20 contests at Emory G. Bauer Field. Valpo is 3-0 in HL series openers thus far.

Spencer Mahoney tallied his ninth double of the season while Nolan Lodden raised his season average to .365 after a 2-for-4 day, but the Crusaders were unable to cross the plate in a 6-0 loss to the Fighting Irish Wednesday night at Frank Eck Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.

Wednesday evening's game between the Crusaders and Fighting Irish will represent the 93rd meeting between the instate rivals. Both clubs will trot out lefties to the mound as Notre Dame (20-10)'s Scott Tully will make his first start - 12th appearance - of the season. Meanwhile, freshman Connor Kaucic receives his third starting assignment for Valpo.

Tuesday's baseball game between Valparaiso and Toledo has been cancelled due to a dicey weather forecast. The Crusaders will return to the diamond tomorrow evening at Frank Eck Stadium on the campus of Notre Dame. First pitch between the Fighting Irish and the Brown and Gold is slated for 6:05 pm ET/5:05 pm CT.

Valparaiso fought back from a two-run hole to claim a 3-2 sixth-inning lead, but Milwaukee scored five runs off the Crusader bullpen to win the series finale, 7-3, at Henry Aaron Field on Saturday afternoon. Spencer Mahoney and Daniel Delaney cracked two hits apiece, but Valpo left 12 runners on base in the loss.

After Shea Molitor's two-out RBI single tied the game in the top of the ninth, Mike Porcaro delivered a single to center to give the Panthers a 7-6 walkoff win at Henry Aaron Field on Friday. Dalton Lundeen struck out ten without walking a batter over seven innings but did not factor into the decision. Nolan Lodden jacked his second home run of the season, a three-run shot in the fifth.

Valpo rallied back from three separate deficits to claim an 11-10 win in 12 innings over Milwaukee at Henry Aaron Field on Thursday. Bryce Yoder pitched a career-most 4 1/3 innings out of the bullpen to earn the win while Spencer Mahoney and Josh Clark each had three-hit games at the plate.

Valparaiso heads to Milwaukee on Thursday for its first Horizon League series away from the pastoral confines of Emory G. Bauer Field. Henry Aaron Field welcomes Valpo for the Panthers’ “official” home opener. The Crusaders enter this weekend two games ahead of UWM for third place in the HL standings.

Spencer Mahoney, Nolan Lodden, and Mark Johnson tallied two hits each Tuesday, but Ball State used nine extra-base hits to fly to a 13-4 win over the Crusaders at Ball Diamond in Muncie.

Impending winter weather has forced the cancellation of Sunday's series finale between Valparaiso and Wright State. The Crusaders will return to the diamond Tuesday afternoon at Ball State. First pitch from the Ball Diamond in Muncie is slated for 4:00 pm ET/3:00 pm CT. A link to the live stats will be available at ValpoAthletics.com.

Dalton Lundeen surrendered just one earned run over seven innings of the Crusaders' 7-6 game one win, but Wright State put up a three-spot in the seventh inning of the second game to spoil Valpo's bid for a DH sweep. The rubber game of this series will be held Sunday at 1 pm CT.

Wright State rides into town on an 11-game winning streak ahead of its first road series in Horizon League play. The Raiders enter this series 31-4 in their last 35 league games, but three of those four losses have come at the hands of the Brown and Gold. At 6-0, WSU is two games ahead of 4-2 Valpo in the league standings.

Valparaiso and Wright State's three-game series originally scheduled for Friday-Sunday has been adjusted due to cold temperatures. Friday's game has been pushed back a day as part of a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 12 pm CT. Game two will be played 30 minutes after the completion of the first tilt. Sunday's series finale will be played at 1 pm CT.

Spencer Mahoney and Mark Johnson led a 14-hit day at the plate while Ellis Foreman kept the Cougars off the scoreboard until the seventh inning of Valpo's 7-2 victory over Chicago State Wednesday afternoon in the Windy City. Freshman Luke VanLanen shut the door for the Crusaders, providing two shutout frames of relief.

Sophomore pitcher Mario Losi shutout the Youngstown State Penguins over nine fabulous innings as Valpo finished off a sweep with a 4-0 victory Sunday at Emory G. Bauer Field. Losi notched his first career shutout in the process, employing three double-play balls to erase potential threats.

Daniel Delaney and Josh Clark both enjoyed four-hit afternoons while Nate Palace and Nolan Lodden combined to drive in five runs in Valpo's 10-8 series-clinching win over Youngstown State Saturday. Mario Losi will take the hill for the Crusaders on Sunday as the Brown and Gold seek to improve to 4-2 in Horizon League play.

The Crusaders will take Emory G. Bauer Field quicker than they imagined in 2015, playing Youngstown State in a “neutral” three-game series in Valparaiso. Field conditions at Eastwood Field were deemed unplayable early in the week so Valpo presented the next best opportunity. The Brown and Gold seek to rise above the .500 mark in Horizon League play with a strong showing.

For the second straight day, the Crusaders received a strong effort from a starting pitcher, but were held scoreless inside a Big Ten park. Purdue defeated Valpo 2-0 at Alexander Field Wednesday afternoon despite Ellis Foreman turning in 6 2/3 innings of stellar pitching.

Freshman Connor Kaucic delivered a quality start against the 24th-ranked team in the nation Tuesday, but Valparaiso was unable to break into the run column against a medley of Indiana pitchers in a 4-0 loss at Bart Kaufman Stadium in Bloomington.

Valparaiso hits the road this week to face a pair of Big Ten foes in Indiana and Purdue. Tuesday will represent the Crusaders’ first trip to Bart Kaufman Field since the 2013 NCAA Regionals. Valpo will get its first glimpse of Alexander Field Wednesday evening as the Boilermakers play host in a 5:30 pm ET/4:30 pm CT affair.

Nate Palace reached base in all seven of his plate appearances, Daniel Delaney delivered his third home run of the season, and Mario Losi fired seven shutout innings in a 15-1 Crusader victory Sunday at Curtis Granderson Stadium in Chicago.

Despite being stuck in neutral for the first eight innings, Valparaiso brought the tying run into scoring position in the ninth. However, Flame reliever Ryan Hinchley preserved a 3-2 win for Jake Dahlberg and UIC Saturday at Curtis Granderson Stadium in Chicago.

Daniel Delaney (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Thousand Oaks [Fresno State]) cracked his second home run of the season, but UIC plated six runs in its half of the fifth en route to an 8-2 win over the Crusaders at Curtis Granderson Stadium in Chicago.

Horizon League play commences this weekend as Valparaiso travels to Curtis Granderson Stadium in Chicago for a three-game series versus the Flames. UIC enters this weekend with the hopes of snapping an early-season cool streak. The Flames’ last win came on Valentine’s Day in Itta Bena, Mississippi. Meanwhile, the Crusaders aim to move closer to the .500 mark behind an offense that has supplied plenty of potency through 11 games.

The final game of Valparaiso's spring trip has been cancelled due to rain. The Crusaders, who were scheduled to play James Madison today, will return to the diamond on Friday afternoon to open Horizon League play versus UIC in Chicago.

Sophomore Nate Palace was named the Horizon League Batter of the Week, as announced by the league office Monday. The first baseman cranked four home runs, drove in 17 runs, and scored 11 times in five games.

Nate Palace ripped his third home run in two games Sunday afternoon at Harley Park in Spartanburg, S.C., but USC Upstate came back from an 11-3 deficit to claim the series with a 17-13 victory over Valparaiso.

Sophomore Nate Palace enjoyed a career day at the plate, launching a pair of home runs as part of a seven-RBI game in the Crusaders' 17-5 victory over the USC Upstate Spartans. Nolan Lodden drove in three runs, scored four times, and walked twice as the junior is the owner of a .476/.577/.810 slash line since moving to the second spot of the batting order a week ago.

Valparaiso rattled off five runs between the seventh and the eighth innings to trim USC Upstate's lead to 8-7, but the tying run was stranded 90 feet away in the Crusaders' third one-run loss. Outfielder Josh Clark went deep for the first time in his Crusader career.

After spending the first half of its spring trip in North Carolina, Valpo heads down to the Palmetto State to engage South Carolina Upstate in a three-game series beginning Friday at Harley Park. The Spartans enter this weekend riding a four-game winning streak that moved them to the .500 mark overall. Meanwhile, Valpo’s offense seems to have found its stride, having amassed 33 runs in their last three contests.

Endowed with a 4-3 lead when play resumed, Valpo exploded for 18 runs, its highest output since April 2nd, 2010. Nate Palace accumulated six runs scored, and Dustin Beasley racked up seven runs batted in. Meanwhile, the Crusader bullpen kept a loaded Catamount offense at bay.

Valpo was leading Western Carolina 4-3 in the top of the third inning when rain moved into the Cullowhee, North Carolina area. The two teams will resume play Wednesday afternoon at 4 pm ET/3 pm CT.

Five Western Carolina miscues parlayed into four unearned runs for the Brown and Gold in their 8-7 victory over the Catamounts at Hennon Stadium in Cullowhee, North Carolina on Monday night. Ellis Foreman came on in relief in the fourth inning of a game that appeared destined for double-digit run totals and delivered 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball. Bryce Yoder notched his first save of the season in a stomach-turning ninth.

Nolan Lodden smacked an opposite-field grand slam as part of a six-run Crusader fourth inning Saturday, but Gardner-Webb's Kevin Hodge delivered the game-winner on an RBI single in the eighth inning of the Runnin' Bulldogs' 8-7 win over Valparaiso at John H. Moss Stadium in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.

Gardner-Webb managed to keep the Brown and Gold off the scoreboard until junior Dustin Beasley's ninth inning solo jack thwarted the Runnin' Bulldogs shutout attempt in a 5-1 loss at John H. Moss Stadium in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. Valpo's bullpen didn't allow an earned run in three innings of work, but the offense went 0-for-13 at the dish with runners on base.

Junior Dalton Lundeen retired 15 Runnin' Bulldogs in a row at one point during his career-high 10-strikeout performance Friday, but three errors came back to bite the Crusaders in a 5-1 loss at John H. Moss Stadium in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.

After inclement weather wiped out all three scheduled games last weekend in Nashville, Valpo hits the road for its Spring trip with the hopes of playing nine games in the span of twelve days. Early forecast models hint that the Crusaders may be in for more of the same as the Carolinas have received uncharacteristic winter precipitation already this week.

Cold weather and ice have created potentially hazardous conditions at E.S. Rose Park in Nashville. As a result, Valpo and Belmont's Sunday doubleheader has been cancelled.

Uncanny weather in the lower Midwest caused the cancellation of the Mule Mix Classic. Instead of a round-robin versus Middle Tennessee State, Lipscomb, and Belmont, the Crusaders will face the Bruins three times this weekend in Nashville. Audio and live stats will be available for all three scheduled games. Follow @ValpoBaseball1 for the latest information regarding game times.

A forecast calling for inclement weather in Nashville has forced the cancellation of a round-robin style tournament involving Valparaiso baseball. Valpo will instead face Belmont only this weekend. The two teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Saturday (time TBA), and a single game on Sunday (time TBA).

Valparaiso left 12 runners on base in a 3-0 loss to San Diego State at Tony Gwynn Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Daniel Delaney enjoyed his third straight multi-hit game. The first baseman went 2-for-4 with a double, capping off a 6-for-11 (.545) weekend.

All nine starters recorded at least one hit for the Crusaders including Dustin Beasley and Daniel Delaney, who both homered in Saturday's game. Valpo banged out 12 runs on 16 hits, but San Diego State scored four runs in three different frames and threw up a seven-spot in the eighth inning of a 22-12 slugfest at Tony Gwynn Stadium in San Diego, California.

Junior Dalton Lundeen pitched very well in his 2015 debut, but shaky defense cost Valparaiso in a 5-4 defeat in its season opener versus San Diego State Friday night. The Crusaders recorded four miscues altogether, but three in particular translated into four unearned runs for the Aztecs.

Valparaiso raises the curtain on the 2015 season Friday evening in Southern California. The San Diego State Aztecs will play host to the Brown and Gold in a three-game set at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The Aztecs have been picked to finish second in the Mountain West Conference.

For the first time in three years, Valpo baseball enters the spring as the hunter as opposed to the hunted. Second-year head coach Brian Schmack welcomes an array of newcomers highlighted by a handful of JUCO-proven transfers. The Crusaders open the 2015 campaign Friday evening in Southern California.

The Horizon League released its preseason coaches' poll Wednesday afternoon. Valpo received 19 points in the survey, which landed them in fourth place in the six-team conference. The 19 points represent the same total as the 2014 poll.

Located in nearby Whiting, Oil City Stadium will serve as the host facility for the 2015 Horizon League Baseball Championship.

Head baseball coach Brian Schmack has announced that former Major League Baseball player and current Fox Sports analyst C.J. Nitkowski (@CJNitkowski) will serve as guest speaker at the 5th Annual Crusader Baseball Bash to be held on Saturday, January 31st inside the Aberdeen Manor Ballroom.

Valparaiso head baseball coach Brian Schmack announced the signing of four student-athletes to the recruiting class of 2015: C Scott Kapers (Schererville, In./Mt. Carmel), RHP Grant Inman (Ft. Wayne, In./Ft. Wayne Carroll), RHP Montana Quigley (Lake Forest, Ca./El Toro), and SS Sam Shaikin (West Hills, Ca./Chatsworth).

Team Turmoil silenced numerous prognosticators Tuesday at Emory G. Bauer Field when they finished off a sweep of The Moneyballers in the Fall World Series. Mark Johnson was named Most Valuable Player while newcomer Luke Syens claimed the Series' Cy Young Award.

Reigning Horizon League Co-Pitcher of the Year Dalton Lundeen will toe the hill opposite sophomore Mario Losi in Game 1 of the Fall World Series Saturday morning at 10 am. Games 2 and 3 will be held Monday and Wednesday, respectively.

Head coach Brian Schmack has announced Saturday, September 20th as the date for this year's Baseball Golf Scramble. The outing again will be held at The Course at Aberdeen in Valparaiso. Prizes for longest drive, closest to the pin, and more will be awarded at the event. Register today!

Valpo baseball announced that the team will hold walk-on tryouts for the 2015 roster on Wednesday, Sept. 3rd at Emory G. Bauer Field. Forms necessary to compete for a walk-on roster spot must be returned to assistant coach/recruiting coordinator Ben Wolgamot at the baseball office no later than Sept. 1st.

Head baseball coach Brian Schmack announced the addition of Adam White to the Crusader coaching staff for the 2014-15 school year Wednesday. White spent the 2013-14 season with Oral Roberts. Prior to last season, White served as an assistant coach for three years with the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Seattle Times' columnist Larry Stone featured former Crusader and current manager of the Seattle Mariners, Lloyd McClendon, in his Wednesday column. In his first year as skipper, McClendon has transformed a franchise stuck in neutral for the past few seasons into a playoff contender.

Fifteen student-athletes across five sports were recognized by the league office Wednesday. Men's golf led the way for Valpo with four representatives, while baseball, and men's and women's outdoor track and field each boasted three.

Three day camp from June 23rd-25th will cover technique and fundamentals for kids in grades K-8. The morning (9 am-12 pm) will serve as the "skills camp" portion while the afternoon (1 pm-3 pm) will be the "game camp."

The Los Angeles Dodgers made former Crusader Karch Kowalczyk (Peru, Ill./La Salle-Peru) their 37th round pick in Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft Saturday. He joins Dallas Cawiezell, Bryce Shafer, Bo McClendon, Kyle Gaedele, and Tanner Vavra as Crusaders chosen in the MLB Draft since 2007.

A little less than five hours after the Crusaders ended UIC's season thanks to yet another dazzling pitching performance, Valpo saw 2014 come to a close following a 7-0 defeat to Wright State. The Brown and Gold concluded their season with a 25-28 overall record. The 25 victories were the most ever recorded by a first-year head coach in Valparaiso history.

Dalton Lundeen's (Streamwood, Ill./Streamwood) prolific sophomore campaign continued Thursday at Kapco Park as the left-hander heaved 8 2/3 innings of shutout ball in Valpo's 2-0 win over the Oakland Golden Grizzlies. The Crusaders will take on #2 UIC Thursday morning at 11:00 am.

Five Penguin pitchers combined to give Youngstown State a 7-3 win over Valpo in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament Wednesday at Kapco Park in Mequon, Wisconsin. Crusaders will face elimination games the rest of the way as Oakland awaits them Thursday morning at 11:00 am CT.

The Horizon League invades the city of Mequon, Wisconsin this week with the league’s NCAA Tournament berth up for grabs in the double-elimination HL Tournament. The Crusaders enter as the third seed and will face Youngstown State at 3 pm CT on Wednesday inside Kapco Park.

Five Crusaders received recognition for their respective 2014 seasons Tuesday as the Horizon League announced its baseball awards. Dalton Lundeen was voted Co-Pitcher of the Year; Michael Morman and Chris Manning were named to the First and Second Teams, respectively; pitchers Ellis Foreman and Mario Losi were elected to the Horizon League's All-Freshman Team.

A seven-run top of the third that saw plenty of pomp and circumstance propelled the Crusaders to a 9-1 victory over Youngstown State Saturday. In the process, Valpo collected its first weekend sweep of the season in Horizon League play.

Valpo plated five runs with two outs in the top of the second inning in game one of Friday's doubleheader versus Youngstown State. In the second tilt, they put up four runs in the exact same scenario. The Brown and Gold collected their 10th and 11th victories in Horizon League play behind 6-2 and 5-3 wins at Eastwood Field in Niles, Ohio.

Rain has forced the postponement of Thursday's baseball game between Youngstown State and Valpo. The game will be made up as part of doubleheader on Friday starting at 1 pm ET/12:00 pm CT at Eastwood Field.

The last time the Crusaders were on Eastwood Field, they celebrated their second consecutive NCAA Tournament berth. This weekend the curtain comes down on the regular season and third through sixth place have yet to be determined in the Horizon League.

The Horizon League announced Ellis Foreman (Round Rock, Texas/Stony Point) as its Pitcher of the Week for the week of May 5th-11th on Monday. Foreman turned in nine dominating innings of shutout ball, striking out 11 Wright State Raiders, walking just one, and yielding six singles.

Ellis Foreman struck out eleven Raiders in nine shutout innings, but five Wright State pitchers combined to blank the Crusaders 1-0 in 12 innings. WSU's Sean Murphy ended the game with a solo home run to left center.

A bottom of the seventh that saw Wright State plate three runs after two Crusader miscues was the difference in the Raiders' 6-4 win over Valpo Saturday at Nischwitz Stadiium in Dayton. Dalton Lundeen allowed two earned runs in 6 2/3 innings on the hill; Michael Morman was 3-for-5 at the plate with two runs scored, an RBI, and his 16th stolen base of the season.

Cole Webb tossed eight innings of one-run ball Friday as Valpo defeated the Horizon League regular season champion Wright State Raiders 11-1 at Nischwitz Stadium. Chris Manning, Andrew Bynum, and Andy Burns each had two hits while Bryce Hara collected three RBIs at the plate.

The Crusaders hit the road Friday as their final six games will be played in the state of Ohio. Wright State has already wrapped up the Horizon League regular season crown and, in effect, the #1 seed for the Conference Tournament. Valpo and Milwaukee are essentially in a deadlock for third place so plenty is at stake for the Brown and Gold these final two weekends.

Crusader outfielder Chris Manning broke the school record for career runs in the seventh inning on an RBI single off the bat of Karch Kowalczyk. Valpo went on to beat Western Michigan 8-4 Wednesday afternoon at Homer Stryker Field in Kalamazoo. Michael Morman went 3-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs as Mario Losi went eight innings on the hill for his second win of 2014.

Valpo moved into a tie for third place in the Horizon League standings as the Crusaders defeated Oakland 8-4 Sunday. For six seniors, the win represented their last game at Emory G. Bauer Field.

On Saturday, the Valparaiso baseball team celebrated the six seniors that would be graduating later this month and looked to send them off with a win, but Oakland pitching had other plans as the Crusaders were blanked in a lightning-quick nine-inning game, falling by a final score of 1-0.

It looked like the same old story when it came to the Valparaiso offense on Friday, as the Crusaders picked up just five hits through the first seven innings. But a switch was flipped in the eighth inning, one which started an exciting Valpo comeback as the Crusaders defeated Oakland in 11 innings, 5-4.

Saturday’s Senior Day highlights the final weekend of the season at Emory G. Bauer Field. After Sunday afternoon’s tilt versus the Golden Grizzlies, the Crusaders will pay their final seven regular season games outside the state of Indiana.

Designated hitter/closer Karch Kowalczyk was announced as the DH on the Capital One Academic All-District Team Thursday. Kowalczyk carries a 3.49 grade point average and is majoring in biology and chemistry.

The Crusaders snapped a five-game losing streak with an 8-3 win over the visiting Chicago State Cougars Wednesday afternoon at Emory G. Bauer Field. Trevor Haas notched his second win of the season as the sophomore scattered eight hits over six innings.

Michael Morman hit his first home run in nearly three years; Mario Losi tossed seven innings and allowed three runs in his first appearance since April 6th, but the Brown and Gold were shutout for the final eight innings in their tilt against Western Michigan on Tuesday.

Valpo strands nine runners in a 6-3 loss to UIC on Sunday afternoon at Emory G. Bauer Field. Karch Kowalczyk had his seventh multi-hit game of the season in addition to throwing a perfect inning in relief of starter Ellis Foreman.

For the second straight day, the Crusader offense pushed a run across in the ninth after being flummoxed by a UIC starter for eight innings. Dalton Lundeen tossed seven innings of two-run ball as he punched out five Flames and walked just one.

Tomas Michelson kept the Crusaders off the scoreboard until the 9th; UIC's Mickey McDonald clubbed a 4th-inning grand slam in a 10-1 Valpo loss at Emory G. Bauer Field on Friday.

With .500 records in conference play, Valpo and UIC are part of a three-team logjam for second place in the Horizon League. Cole Webb and Dalton Lundeen have both been outstanding on the mound in HL play. They're faced with the challenge of containing a UIC offense that is 9th in the country in scoring (7.2 runs/game) beginning Friday at 3:00 pm.

Crusaders post an unearned run off lefty Matt Magni in a 2-1, two-hour loss to the Polar Bears. After yielding two first-inning runs, Trevor Haas settled in to give the Brown and Gold six strong frames.

The Crusaders waited out a 33-minute rain delay to defeat the Kalamazoo Hornets 10-3 at Emory G. Bauer Field Monday. Jeff Edwards, Chris Manning, Karch Kowalczyk, Grant Yoder, and Mark Johnson each had two hits at the plate as Drew Hasler threw five shutout innings to earn his second win of the season.

Senior right-hander shares the honor with UWM's Cody Peterson. Webb threw a two-hit shutout versus the Panthers on Thursday, walking one and striking out a career-high eight batters.

Milwaukee's Justin Langley struck out twelve Crusaders over seven innings Saturday at Henry Aaron Field as the Panthers claimed the series with a 5-0 victory. Valpo dropped to 1-7 in series finales as the Brown and Gold were held scoreless for the second straight game.

A Jake Hanson infield single in the eighth inning was the lone Crusader hit Friday as Valpo fell 3-0 to Milwaukee. UWM's Cody Peterson and Dalton Lundeen both went the distance but a two-run Panther third inning was the difference.

Senior turns in his most dominating start of 2014 in a series-opening 4-0 win over the Panthers at Henry Aaron Field in Milwaukee. Jeff Edwards provided the lone RBI for Valpo as the Crusaders scored a run off a passed ball, a wild pitch, a balk.

The last time a Horizon League team won a game at Henry Aaron Field in Milwaukee, Kevin Wild was on the mound, Steven Scoby was patrolling right field, and Tracy Woodson was in the dugout. Since April 29th, 2012, the Panthers have won twelve straight at home against HL opponents. The Crusaders look to snap that streak in the first of a three-game set Thursday afternoon at 3:00 pm CT.

A forecast calling for cold temperatures and precipitation has prompted Tuesday's non-conference game at Toledo to be cancelled. The contest will not be made up. Valpo will return to the diamond Thursday to kick off a three-game set in Milwaukee. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 pm CT.

Dalton Lundeen collected his third Horizon League Pitcher of the Week Award of the season Monday. Lundeen struck out a career-high nine batters and didn't allow an earned run over eight innings Saturday versus Youngstown State. OF Mark Johnson batted .643 for the week, including two home runs, a triple, a double, and four RBIs in Saturday's doubleheader with the Penguins.

Crusaders romp Penguins 13-1 in game one of the doubleheader; Youngstown State turns the tide in game two with a 12-4 defeat of Valpo to salvage a tilt in the three-game set. Dalton Lundeen was dazzling on the hill as he didn't allow an earned run over eight innings. Mark Johnson had a career day at the plate with two home runs. Karch Kowalczyk drove in a career-high six runs in the first contest.

With inclement weather expected on Sunday, the Valparaiso Crusaders and Youngstown State Penguins have agreed to play a doubleheader today (Saturday). The first game will start at the originally scheduled 12:00 pm CT time, with game two beginning a half hour after the conclusion of game one. No changes have been made to the probable starting pitchers.

All nine batters recorded at least one hit as the back end of the Crusader bullpen preserved a 10-7 series-opening win for the Brown and Gold Friday at Emory G. Bauer Field. Valpo will go for the series win Saturday at 12:00 pm CT.

Valpo is 26-5 all-time against the Penguins at Emory G. Bauer Field. At 3-3, the Crusaders are looking to vault into the top half of the Horizon League standings as they welcome Youngstown State to town for a three-game series starting Friday at 3:00 pm CT.

Wildcats score twelve unanswered runs in the first five innings as they downed Valpo 12-5 at Rocky Miller Park in Evanston on Tuesday. Jeff Edwards, Mark Johnson, Michael Morman, and Ray Bartolomucci each recorded two hits in the losing effort.

Wildcats lead the all-time series 23-9 but Valpo and Northwestern have split the last twelve meetings since 2000. The Crusaders will trot out RHP Ellis Foreman while the Wildcats will send LHP Dan Tyson to the hill Tuesday in the 3:00 pm tilt at Rocky Miller Park.

The sophomore southpaw held Wright State scoreless through seven innings in Valpo's 2-0 win over the Raiders at Emory G. Bauer Field Saturday. With the victory, Lundeen improved to 3-0 lifetime against Wright State.

Having already secured the series victory over Wright State, the Valparaiso baseball team was unable to close out a series sweep at Emory G. Bauer Field on Sunday, as the Raiders downed the Crusaders by a 4-2 score.

The Valparaiso baseball team handed Wright State its first two losses in Horizon League play of the season Saturday at Emory G. Bauer Field, sweeping both ends of the twinbill from the Raiders, 3-1 and 2-0. The victories snapped the Crusaders' six-game losing streak and moved Valpo to 3-2 in Horizon League play.

The 8-0 Wright State Raiders come to town for the first Horizon League series of the season at Emory G. Bauer Field. Due to a rain-filled weather forecast for Friday, the two teams will play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at noon. The second game of the twin bill will start approximately thirty minutes after the conclusion of game one.

Despite drawing eleven walks, Valpo baseball dropped its sixth straight tilt Wednesday 10-6 to Northern Illinois. Michael Morman went 2-for-3, walked twice, scored three times and swiped three bases as the redshirt sophomore raised his average to .289. The Crusaders will host Wright State in a doubleheader Saturday beginning at noon.

Andrew Bynum and Michael Morman both had multi-hit games but the Crusaders fell 11-1 to the Irish. Valpo will host its home opener Wednesday afternoon versus Northern Illinois at 3 pm at Emory G. Bauer Field.

The club spent the better part of Monday afternoon getting Emory G. Bauer Field ready for games following four home cancellations already this season. First pitch between the Crusaders and Huskies is scheduled for 3:00 pm CT.

The Valpo-Notre Dame baseball game originally scheduled for 4:35 pm CT Tuesday has been pushed back to 7:05 pm CT at Four Winds Field in South Bend, Indiana.

Crusaders outhit the Bulldogs 10-8, but leave twelve men on base and commit three errors in a 5-3 loss at Bulldog Park in Indianapolis. Karch Kowalczyk went 4-for-5 at the plate with an RBI double off the left field fence.

Crusaders will square off against former Horizon League foe Butler Sunday afternoon at 1 pm in Indianapolis. Single game could change to doubleheader beginning at noon if Bulldogs can't get both of their games in Saturday in Louisville.

Irish prevail 4-1 in a two-hour, two-minute tilt in South Bend. Michael Morman tallied his eighth multi-hit game of the season, but the Crusaders managed just five hits. Ellis Foreman was highly efficient on the mound for Valpo, needing just 79 pitches to record seven innings.

Unplayable conditions at OU Baseball Field have forced the cancellation of this weekend's series. The three-game set will not be made up.

In a move to offset a number of cancellations already this season, the Crusaders have added a game versus Notre Dame this Wednesday afternoon inside Four Winds Field at 5:35 pm ET/4:35 pm CT.

Tuesday's baseball game against Ball State has been cancelled due to poor field conditions. It represents the sixth contest lost thus far this season. The Crusaders are currently scheduled to play Oakland this weekend in Rochester, Michigan.

Valpo lost a couple of tight contests Saturday to UIC. Dalton Lundeen's 7 2/3 innings and Chris Manning's 4-for-4 day at the plate weren't enough in the morning game as the Flames won 5-4. Spencer Mahoney was 3-for-5 with two runs scored out of the leadoff spot, but two errors and eight runners left on base came back to haunt the Crusaders in a 6-3 defeat in the afternoon tilt.

Cole Webb and Tomas Michelson went toe-to-toe for eight innings Friday night in Chicago. Spencer Mahoney scored the game-winning run in the 9th on an error in center field to give Valpo its first win in an HL opener since 2010. The Crusaders move to 4-0 in one-run games.

The newly-constructed Curtis Granderson Stadium in downtown Chicago will play host to Valpo and UIC Friday and Saturday. The Crusaders and Flames have faced each other 16 times over the past two seasons. Valpo enters conference play above .500 for the first time since 1997.

Crusaders and Flames will meet up Friday night at 5 pm CT before playing a doubleheader beginning at 10:30 am CT at Curtis Granderson Stadium in Chicago.

After a 10-day hiatus, Crusaders return to diamond with a decisive 7-1 triumph over the Cougars. Ellis Foreman notched his first career win as he threw six innings of one-run ball. Jeff Edwards tallied his second multi-RBI game of the season while Spencer Mahoney and Andy Burns each had two-hit games.

The thaw continues in Northwest Indiana, but Emory G. Bauer Field remains unplayable as baseball endures its fifth cancellation of the spring. Wednesday's non-conference game against Buffalo will not be made up. Valpo's game versus Chicago State Tuesday at 1 pm is still expected to go on as planned.

A forecast calling for blustery conditions has moved Monday's Valpo vs. Chicago State baseball game to Tuesday at 1 pm at the Chicago State University Baseball Stadium.

Crusaders and Panthers will not play this weekend due to unplayable field conditions. Teams will meet Apr. 17th-19th in Milwaukee in the regularly-scheduled three-game set at Henry Aaron Field.

The final game of the Crusaders' spring trip has been cancelled due to unplayable conditions at Daniel Sullivan Field in San Antonio. Valpo will open Horizon League play this weekend versus Milwaukee at a site still to be determined.

Sophomore southpaw tossed a shutout against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in just his second start back from a battle with mononucleosis. Lundeen has yet to allow an extra-base hit in 11 1/3 innings of work this season.

Dalton Lundeen fired a shutout in a seven-inning tilt before Mario Losi scattered five hits over eight innings in Valpo's 5-1 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Saturday. Catcher Jake Hanson had a pair of RBIs and Karch Kowalczyk went yard for the second straight day in the 4-0 Game 1 win.

Karch Kowalczyk hit an opposite-field, three-run homer in the fourth inning, but four errors on the infield coupled with nine strikeouts at the plate led to a 7-4 loss Friday night at Chapman Field in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Valpo (5-6) and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (5-9) clash Friday in the first of a three-game series in southern Texas. Senior Cole Webb (2-1, 3.86) will battle Matt Danton (2-1, 2.53) on the mound in a 6:30 pm first pitch at Chapman Field.

Ellis Foreman made a statement start for Crusaders as the redshirt freshman scattered four hits over seven innings, allowing one earned run. Ben Mahar got the win as he provided the bridge to Karch Kowalczyk in nailing down his fourth save of 2014.

Crusader bullpen limited the Longhorns to just one earned run in four innings in relief of Dalton Lundeen. Lundeen, who made his first start of the season in front of over 4,500 in attendance, allowed two earned runs in four frames. Michael Morman had two of Valpo's four hits on the evening.

First-year head coach Brian Schmack will call the shots across the diamond from 46-year veteran Augie Garrido Tuesday night in Austin as Valpo meets #10 Texas for the first time. Kevin Dunn and Greg Swindell will have the call live on the Longhorn Network at 6:00 pm CT.

Valpo pushed seven runs across in a busy first two innings before McNeese State rallied back from 7-3 deficit to claim rubber game 15-8 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Crusaders prepare for Tuesday tilt with #15 Texas.

Cowboys took advantage of three Crusader errors in an 8-0 win over the Brown and Gold. Michael Clemens struck out two Valpo batters in a five-hit shutout. Sunday's rubber game will begin at 1:00 pm CT.

Crusaders score five early in Louisiana, stave off late Cowboy rally in 6-5 victory. Chris Manning sent a three-run shot to left while Cole Webb threw seven strong innings.

The Crusaders will play their next nine in the deep south as their spring trip begins Friday. Before heading to Texas, Valpo will tangle with McNeese State (5-2) in a three-game series. The Cowboys enter the weekend with 22 stolen bases thus far.

Head baseball coach Brian Schmack sat down with Brad Collignon for this week's episode of the Valpo Coaches Show ahead of his team's spring break trip through Louisiana and Texas. In the #talkingschmack segment, the Crusader skipper addressed what he looks for when determining whether a starting pitcher goes out to the mound in the latter innings.

Jacksonville State plated three runs in the bottom of the 7th as Valpo fell 6-3 in Alabama Sunday afternoon. Chris Manning and Michael Morman both had two-hit games for the Crusaders, who will embark on their Spring Break trip Friday.

One day after falling 10-0 in the series opener, Valpo answers with emphatic 10-3 victory over Gamecocks. Karch Kowalczyk's bases-clearing double in the 7th helped the senior to a five-RBI afternoon. Drew Hasler tossed seven strong innings as the sophomore registered his first win of the season.

Valparaiso was limited to three hits in Friday's 10-0 series-opening loss to Jacksonville State. Second baseman Andy Burns went 2-for-4 for the Crusaders. Valpo sets its sights on evening the series Saturday at 1:00 pm in Alabama.

The Crusaders head south for a three-game set with the Gamecocks. The two teams face off for the first time in 35 years Friday afternoon at 3:00 pm CT. Cole Webb (1-0, 3.00) will take the hill opposite JSU's Taylor Shields (1-0, 1.80) at Rudy Abbott Field in Jacksonville, Alabama.

Crusader head baseball coach Brian Schmack joined the Valpo Coaches Show this week to talk about his team's success this past weekend at Samford and to look ahead to a three-game set with Jacksonville State. The Valpo Coaches Show introduced a special, interactive "#TalkingSchmack" portion in this week's segment.

Junior did it all the plate as his .583/.688/.750 weekend versus Samford garnered him the first Horizon League Batter of the Week Award of the season.

Freshman fires seven innings of two-run ball; Kowalczyk, Palace go yard but Samford scores nine in final three innings in 10-7 come-from-behind win over Crusaders.

Bynum, Manning, Mahoney, Kowalczyk each had multi-RBI games in an 11-8 victory over Samford in Alabama. Bryce Yoder collected his first collegiate win as Kowalczyk worked a scoreless ninth for his second save in as many days. Crusaders off to 2-0 start for first time since 2009.

Valpo plates four in the 1st inning, tack on two in the 4th to give Webb the win. Kowalczyk notched the save with a nail-biting ninth. Hanson, Mahoney both recorded two-hit games for the Crusaders.

With inclement weather heading towards Alabama, first pitch of the Valpo/Samford game has been changed to 4 p.m.

Valpo lands Manning, Hara, Kowalczyk on Preseason All-League Team; Milwaukee Panthers, the 2013 regular season champions, received 33 points and three first-place votes.

The Crusaders take to the diamond Friday as their quest to become back-to-back-to-back Horizon League champions begins in Homewood, Alabama versus Samford. Despite recent unprecedented success, head coach Brian Schmack and his team remain hungry.

A year removed from a 12-save season, redshirt senior Karch Kowalczyk is one of just 50 relievers named to National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's Preseason Stopper of the Year Watch List.

Click the video to see highlights of Valpo baseball's trip to the Dominican Republic. The team spent a week in the some of the most underprivileged areas of Latin America as they performed community service, toured historical sites, and played a handful of games.

Crusader coaching staff will host hitting camps December 28th and 29th at the Emory G. Bauer indoor complex in Valparaiso. High school-aged campers will have three times to choose from each day.

Head coach Brian Schmack and his team begin a week-long trip to the Dominican Republic today. The journey includes community service time with local children at orphanage, games against Dominican & MLB farm teams.

Delaney, Garbella, Lodden, Van Lanen highlight another stout recruiting class for Crusaders on the diamond. Garbella is a member of the Italian National Baseball Team, while Van Lanen was the #4 prospect out of the state of Wisconsin.

In addition to raising the basketball banners, director of athletics Mark LaBarbera presented rings to the baseball, softball, and men's golf Championship teams from 2012-2013 at the season opener versus Murray State.

Out-of-conference contests versus Texas, Notre Dame highlight schedule; Crusaders open 2014 season on Feb. 14th in Homewood, Alabama against Samford. Home opener set for Mar. 14th versus Milwaukee. Get head coach Brian Schmack's take on the spring slate in this week's edition of Inside Valpo Athletics.

Valpo alum Lloyd McClendon was amongst first group to be inducted into Valpo Athletics Hall of Fame; McClendon was drafted by the New York Mets in 1980.

Chris Manning led the Grey team to a 2-0 sweep in the best-of-three World Series at Emory G. Bauer Field last week. The Crusaders will continue individual workouts before official practices begin in January.

Senior Karch Kowalczyk will captain the Black team while fellow senior Chris Manning will guide the Grey team in Valpo's Fall World Series held at Emory G. Bauer Field. The intrasquad competition represents the conclusion of fall team practices.

After stints at Illinois State and Bellarmine, Mike Stalowy named top assistant at Valpo. Ben Wolgamot, who last served as recruiting coordinator at Eastern Illinois, slotted as assistant coach/recruiting coordinator. Wolgamot was an All-Big Ten second baseman at Purdue.

Baseball will hold its annual Golf Scramble Saturday, September 21st at Aberdeen GC. Shotgun start will be at 12:30 pm. Prizes will be awarded for longest drive, closest to the pin, and much more.

Head baseball coach Brian Schmack released the dates for this year's Fall Prospect Camp. All players in grades 9-12 are invited to attend on Sunday, October 6th and Saturday, October 26th for skill development and evaluation.

Valparaiso University director of athletics Mark LaBarbera announced today that Brian Schmack has been named the 17th head coach in Crusader baseball history and just the sixth since 1946.

Valparaiso University director of athletics Mark LaBarbera announced today that Tracy Woodson has stepped down as the head coach of the Crusader baseball program in order to accept the same position at Richmond.

As two-time defending Horizon League champions, the Valparaiso baseball program isn't resting on its laurels, as many Crusaders are preparing for next season by spending their summer sharpening their skills in collegiate wood-bat leagues from coast to coast.

Valparaiso placed 19 student-athletes over seven sports on the Horizon League's 2013 Spring Academic All-League Teams, as announced by the league office. The 19 honorees tied for the most from any league institution.

Valparaiso closer Karch Kowalczyk (Peru, Ill./La Salle-Peru) earned another honor for his strong 2013 season on Thursday, as he was named to the ABCA/Rawlings Second Team All-Mideast Region.

Valparaiso senior second baseman Tanner Vavra (Menomonie, Wis./Menomonie [Madison]) became the fourth Crusader in the last four seasons to be drafted in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, as he was chosen in the 30th round by the Minnesota Twins with the 890th overall pick.

Starting pitcher Cole Webb and shortstop Spencer Mahoney were named to Bloomington's All-Tournament Team on Sunday. Webb held #13 Indiana to one run in seven innings, Mahoney went 5-for-12 with a home run in three games.

Governors score a run in five separate innings, end Valpo's season at 32-28. Loss caps off a season that included a second Horizon League championship and an NCAA Regional win for the first time since 1966.

Down 4-1, Crusaders storm back for four runs in the bottom of the seventh to eliminate the Florida Gators. Kyle Wormington earned the win out of the bullpen, and Spencer Mahoney hit his first career home run as Valpo secured its first win in an NCAA Regional since 1966.

Andrew Bain went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Cole Webb threw seven innings of one-run ball. However, Hoosiers plate four in the bottom of the 9th to steal 5-4 win from the Crusaders. Facing elimination, Valpo will play Florida on Saturday afternoon at 2 pm ET/1 pm CT.