Valpo scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to come back and defeat Holy Cross 5-4 Tuesday at the Rebel Spring Games in Orlando, Fla. after falling to South Dakota State 3-2 earlier in the day.

With Holy Cross ahead 4-2 in the seventh and Ann Sievert (Davenport, Iowa/Assumption) on first with one out, Alicia Ashburn (Mishawaka, Ind./Mishawaka) blasted the first home run of her career to straightaway center field, tying the game at four. Three batters later, Karen Korb (Indianapolis, Ind./Lutheran North) singled home Mallory Gill (Beloit, Wis./Memorial) to give the Crusaders the win.

Valpo fell behind 1-0 early, but tied the score in the fourth on a Taylor Callahan (Pendergrass, Ga./Greater Atlanta Christian) double. After Holy Cross scored two more in the fifth, Valpo responded with another run in the bottom half of the inning on a Megan Carroll (Eaton Rapids, Mich./Eaton Rapids) to keep the game close.

Carroll finished the game 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, her third multi-hit game of the season. The junior, who led Valpo in hitting a year ago, is batting .476 through the early going with four doubles. Carroll now has 20 two-base hits in her career, fifth-most in school history.

Stephanie Kelly (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield) pitched the first five innings and returned in the seventh to earn her third win in her third career appearance. The freshman struck out four and allowed only two earned runs in her six innings of work. Lindsey MacNeil pitched the seventh and took the loss for Holy Cross.

In the day's first game, the Crusader defense let down the Valpo staff, which surrendered only five hits and one earned run but took the loss.

South Dakota State jumped ahead in the fourth with their only earned run, before the Brown and Gold answered back in the top of the fifth. With two outs, Gill singled, advanced to third on a Carroll double, and both scored a Korb base hit.

The score was tied headed into the seventh inning, and after striking out the first to batters, Andrea Zappia (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central) surrendered a base hit to Tessie Winterton. After Winterton stole second, Kiley Schwedhelm grounded to shortstop, but an errant throw from Gill allowed the winning run to score.

Jenna Marston earned the win for the Jackrabbits, while Zappia suffered the loss.

The Crusaders (3-3) continue play at the Rebel Spring Games Wednesday in Orlando, Fla., taking on Sacred Heart at 9:40 p.m. before meeting Saint Bonaventure at 11:30 a.m.

Valpo-South Dakota State box score
Valpo-Holy Cross box score