Tuesday, March 27, 2007

UIC used a four-run fourth inning and solid pitching to defeat Valparaiso 5-0 on Tuesday evening on a cool, crisp evening in Chicago, Ill.

Valpo's future Horizon League foe jumped in front in the bottom of the third inning. Ben Trotter's sacrifice fly to center drove home Chad Schroeder, who led off the inning with a single.

Jake Carr increased the lead to two with his homerun into a stiff wind blowing in to lead off the fourth. A squeeze bunt and a ground out plated two more before a two-out single made it 5-0 Flames at the end of four.

Valpo pitchers allowed just one hit after the fourth inning, but the Crusader bats managed just five hits, all singles, on the night. Michael Arensdorff (Eldridge, Iowa/North Scott H.S.) had a hit for the 15th time in 16 games, including the sixth straight contest, while Brian Rzepka (South Bend, Ind./Penn H.S.) extended his hitting to eight straight with a single in the seventh.

Harvey Yergin (Akron, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) worked six innings allowing all five runs and eight hits while striking out four in the loss (0-3) for the Crusaders. Starter Ryan Zink (1-1) earned the win for UIC (7-12), working six innings of three-hit baseball with five strikeouts.

Valparaiso (4-12) will return to action on Friday evening in Terre Haute, Ind. to begin a four-game weekend series against Indiana State. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. CDT.