Thursday, April 15, 2004

Valparaiso, Ind. - Eddie Hannan had three hits and four RBIs and Jon Rupno added four hits and two RBIs as Valpo defeated Lewis 20-0. The Crusaders, who pounded out 20 hits, received 7 shutout innings from Kyle Obenauf.

Valpo (8-20), which had 13 players hit safely, were also led by Troy Garrett with two hits and three RBIs. Kevin Perri blasted his 2nd homer of the season off the scoreboard behind the center field fence in an eight-run, eighth inning.

Obenauf (2-4) had a strong outing, limiting the Flyers to five hits and one walk, while fanning four. Adam Paetznick pitched 2 innings of hitless and scoreless ball.

The Crusaders broke the game open with seven runs in the second and third innings. In the second, Garrett's two-run double highlighted a three-run frame. Kevin Kutansky added an RBI double in the third, while Hannan followed with a two-run single and Rupno extended Valpo's lead to 7-0 with an RBI double.

Valpo gradually built its lead to 12-0 with one run in the fourth, two in the fifth and two in the sixth. Rupno's RBI triple to left center and Garrett's third RBI keyed the fifth-inning scoring. Hannan's two-run single accounted for the sixth-inning uprising.

Lewis (13-26), which used seven pitchers in a pre-determined rotation, fell victim to an eight-run, seven-hit eighth. Patrick Paulus had an RBI single off the bench to help ignite the big inning.

Greg Moss (2-4) took the loss for the Flyers, allowing three runs and three hits in 2 innings. Matt Newquist had two of Lewis' five hits.

The Crusaders host Illinois Tech on Friday at 3 p.m.