Sunday, April 13, 2003

Fort Wayne, Ind. - Brandon Sadler had four hits and two RBIs, but Valpo lost a doubleheader to IPFW by scores of 6-2 and 5-2. Marc Boggio belted his first homer of the season in the second game for the Crusaders (8-17-1).

In the first game, IPFW scored three in the third inning and three in the fourth to take a 6-0 lead. The Mastodons (14-18-1) tallied seven of their eight hits during the two-inning span.

Valpo scored its two runs in the sixth on Sadler's two-run double to right field, plating Sean Peickert and Boggio. Sadler and Eddie Hannan each had two hits in the first game.

Elliott Gibbs (1-3) started on the mound for the Crusaders, allowing five earned runs and seven hits in 4 innings. The freshman righthander struck out two and walked two. Kyle Obenauf, pitched 2 scoreless innings of relief.

IPFW's David Zachary (3-3) went the distance, striking out 13 with no walks. He allowed two earned runs and five hits in 7 innings. Jacob Abramson went 2-for-3 with two RBIs for IPFW.

In the nightcap, Valpo jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first on Boggio's solo shot over the left field fence. After the Mastodons scored two in the second on a two-run homer by Billy Banks, the Crusaders tied the game at 2-2 in the third. Eric Snyder reached on an error by the third baseman, stole second and scored on Peickert's single down the left field line.

Banks hit another homer, a solo shot in the fourth, to give IPFW a 3-2 lead. The final two runs came via the long ball, a two-run roundtripper by Ryan Keena in the fifth.

Valpo loaded the bases in the seventh on singles by Snyder, Peickert and Sadler, but Doug McDonald recorded the final out for his fourth save.

Todd Evans (1-4) hurled 6 innings for Valpo, allowing five runs and four hits, while fanning five and walking four. IPFW used four pitchers with Adam Ferris (2-2) picking up the win in relief.

Peickert, Sadler and Kevin Kutansky had two hits each for the Crusaders in the second game.

The Crusaders play at Purdue on Tuesday beginning at 3 p.m.