Saturday, April 03, 2004

Amanda Gilbertson (Murrieta, Calif./West Albany H.S., Ore.) threw a pair of complete games to lead Valparaiso to a doubleheader sweep of IUPUI on Saturday afternoon in Mid-Continent Conference action. The Crusaders won the opener 5-3 and took game two 4-0 in eight innings in Indianapolis.

In the opener, the Crusaders jumped in front first as Beth Adamski (St. John, Ind./Lake Central H.S.) doubled home two runs and Kelly Silvey (Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard H.S.) plated another on a single, all in the top of the second. IUPUI answered with single runs in the second and third to cut the lead to one, but Valpo added two more in the seventh, which proved to be insurance tallies.
After tripling to lead off the inning, Stephanie Reinke (Parker, Colo./J.K. Mullen H.S.) scored on an error and Karen Constien (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North H.S.) plated Taylor Callahan (Grayson, Ga./Greater Atlanta Christian H.S.) with another triple to increase the lead to three. The Jaguars added a run in the seventh, but it wouldn't be enough as Valpo grabbed game one.

Gilbertson went the distance for the victory, striking out one and allowing ten hits. Devan Craig took the loss for IUPUI, striking out three and allowing three earned runs in seven innings. Tricia Speziale (Elmhurst, Ill./York H.S.) and Silvey each had two hits for the Crusaders, while Whitnle Darvell went 3-for-3 for IUPUI.

In the nightcap, the first seven innings proved to be a scoreless pitcher's dual before the Crusaders broke through with four unearned runs in the eighth. Reinke led off with a double and Silvey followed with a single and advanced to second on the throw. A fielding error plated both runners, and another error scored a third for the Crusaders. Speziale then drove home the fourth run of the inning with a single.

Gilbertson fanned three and allowed just seven hits in the extra inning win improving her record to 4-4, while Angelica Espinosa was the tough-luck loser for IUPUI. Spezial went 3-for-4 in the game, while Callahan also had a pair of hits. Darvell had two hits for the Jaguars.

Valparaiso (8-14, 3-1 Mid-Con) took three out of four to win the weekend series with IUPUI (11-14, 4-4) and will return to the diamond on Wednesday evening for a doubleheader at St. Joseph's (Ind.). First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. CDT.