Wednesday, March 07, 2007

IPFW scored three or more runs in four different innings on the way to a 15-3 victory over Valparaiso on Wednesday afternoon in Bradenton, Fla.

The Mastodons jumped in front in the fourth with a single run before adding four in the fifth and three more in the sixth to take an 8-0 lead.

Valpo answered with three in the bottom of the sixth. Dan Portschy (Clarendon Hills, Ill./Hinsdale Central H.S.) hit his first career homerun, a two-run shot that brought home Joe Lazar (Traverse City, Mich./Central H.S.). Ryan Manthei (Kenosha, Wis./Tremper H.S.) added an RBI single which plated Michael Arensdorff (Eldridge, Iowa/North Scott H.S.) to cut the deficit to 8-3.

IPFW (2-10) added four more runs in the seventh and three in the ninth though while keeping the Crusaders off of the scoreboard the rest of the way.

Cole Uebelhor (1-2) earned the win for the Mastodons, striking out six on his way to a complete game victory. Ranko Ivetic (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central H.S.) (0-1) suffered the loss for the Crusaders, working 4.1 innings and allowing five runs.

Nick Diem went 4-for-6 with seven runs batted in for IPFW while Tony Nichting drove in four more. Lazar had two hits for the Crusaders in the loss.

Valparaiso (2-3) will return to action on Thursday morning in Bradenton with a doubleheader scheduled against Bowling Green. First pitch is slated for 9 a.m. CST.