Sunday, May 16, 2010

Valparaiso sophomore pitcher Alex Lagesse (Beecher, Ill./Beecher) was one of nine players named to the All-Tournament Team at the 2010 Horizon League Championship.

Lagesse, who had not pitched more than 15.2 innings in any three-day stretch during the regular season, was asked to carry the lion’s share of the work in the circle during the three days at the tournament for the Crusaders and responded admirably.  She kicked off action the first day with a five-hit shutout of Green Bay, striking out seven hitters, and then took the tough-luck loss in a 1-0 decision against top-seeded Cleveland State, going 7.2 innings and scattering seven hits while again striking out seven.

On the second day, Lagesse entered in relief against UIC, tossing 3.1 shutout innings to earn her first career save in a one-run elimination ballgame.  The sophomore followed later that day with another shutout effort in an elimination game, blanking Green Bay on four hits while striking out a career-high ten batters in a 1-0 victory.  Lagesse went the distance for the fourth time in the tournament Saturday morning against Wright State, taking the loss despite giving up just five hits in six innings.

Lagesse, who became the first Valpo player to earn All-Tournament accolades in the Horizon League, pitched 31.0 of the 34.2 innings for the Crusaders in the 2010 Horizon League Championship, going 2-2 with the one save and posting a miniscule 0.90 ERA.  The sophomore struck out 30 batters and walked just seven, two intentionally, while allowing opponents to hit just .211 against her.  The pair of wins Lagesse picked up during the tournament gave her 15 on the season, third-most in a single year in Valpo history, and she closed the 2010 campaign with 133 strikeouts, also third-most in a single season by a Crusader.