Saturday, March 15, 2003

Valparaiso dropped a pair of games at the Hilltopper Classic on Saturday afternoon in Bowling Green, Ky. The Crusaders fell 14-4 to the hosts, Western Kentucky, in their first game, before losing 1-0 in eight innings to Belmont in the late game.

The Hilltoppers plated three runs in each of the first three innings before the Brown and Gold got on the scoreboard. In the Valpo third, Laurie Grabiak (Saint Louis, Mo./Parkway North H.S.) double home Kelly Silvey (Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard H.S.) for the Crusaders' first run. Kelly Smoker (Kalamazoo, Mich./Comstock H.S.) then scored on an error, and Grabiak came home on a passed ball to cut the deficit to 9-3.

Western Kentucky scored five times in the top of the sixth to break the game wide open. The Crusaders scored one in the bottom of the sixth as Bridget Schwoegler (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton H.S.) singled home Nicole Dubs (Genoa City, Wis./Badger H.S.).

Amanda Gilbertson (Murrietta, Calif./West Albany H.S., Ore.) took the loss for Valpo while Adrienne Lathrop recorded the win for Western Kentucky (11-10).

In the nightcap, Belmont scored an unearned run in the eighth to register the victory after the two schools played seven innings of scoreless ball.

Brittany Attebery (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central H.S.) scattered just two hits while striking out two in the complete game effort. Smoker had two hits for the Brown and Gold.