Karen Constien (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North H.S.) homered twice in the opener and once in game two to help Valparaiso to a doubleheader sweep of UMKC on Saturday afternoon at the Valparaiso University softball field. The Crusaders won the opener 7-2 and the nightcap 2-0.

In the opener, the Crusaders scored a pair of unearned runs in the opening inning. Monica Rowan (Evergreen Park, Ill./Evergreen Park H.S.) scored on a throwing error with two outs and Taylor Callahan (Grayson, Ga./Greater Atlanta Christian H.S.) singled home Constien. Valpo added another unearned run in the third as Lisa Setzler (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso H.S.) scored on a two out error.

Constien started her power serge in the third with a two-run blast to left. The Brown and Gold added a third run in the frame as Bridget Schwoegler (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton H.S.) doubled home Callahan with two outs. Constien added an insurance run in the fifth with a leadoff homerun.

UMKC scored a pair of runs in the sixth as Jamie McGrath singled home Amber White and Kacie Tietgen scored on a wild pitch.

Amanda Gilbertson (Murrieta, Calif./West Albany H.S., Ore.) registered the win, striking out four over four innings. Brittany Atteberry (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central H.S.) picked up her second save of the year going the final three innings. Tisha Abell suffered the loss for UMKC.

Callahan went 3-for-3 in the opener, while Setzler and Schwoegler each had two hits in two at-bats. White and McGrath each had two hits for the Kangaroos.

Game two saw Kelly Silvey (Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard H.S.) lead off the bottom of the first with a homerun down the leftfield line. With two outs, Constien hit her third round-tripper of the day to left, which finished off the scoring for the afternoon.

Gilbertson spun a five hit shutout striking out four to improve her record to 9-10 on the season. Jenny Schade suffered the loss for UMKC, combining with Veronica Weaver on a four-hitter. Lindsay Bauer had two hits for the Kangaroos in the nightcap.

Valpo (17-23, 11-5 Mid-Con) swept the four game weekend series with the Kangaroos and improved to 9-1 at home this season. UMKC falls to 7-33 overall, 5-11 in the Mid-Con.