Valparaiso, Ind. - Valpo had a big comeback fall short in the first game and then fell victim to a three-run seventh-inning rally as the Crusaders were swept in a Mid-Continent Conference doubleheader by scores of 9-8 and 5-4. Marc Boggio (two triples) and Sean Peickert (two-run homer) had four hits and four RBIs each in the twinbill. Eric Snyder also tallied four hits on the day.

In the first game, Valpo (8-21-1) trailed 9-2 before scoring six runs - all with two outs - in the bottom of the ninth. Boggio hammered a two-run triple, Peickert added a two-run double, Caleb Kimmel had an RBI double and Jeff Mandsager delivered a RBI single during the frame. The Crusaders had the tying run on third, but failed to score.

Oral Roberts (18-16, 2-0 Mid-Con) scored three in the fourth and seventh innings, respectively. Matt VanDerBosch, Kevin Lamb and Scott Campbell all homered and had two RBIs apeice for the Golden Eagles.

Dennis Bigley (4-2) went 8 2/3 innings, allowing five runs and 10 hits, while striking out nine and walking one. Bigley was one of four ORU pitchers used in the ninth. Justin Ramsey gave up a hit and a walk before recording the final out for his first save.

Boggio (2-4), one of three Valpo hurlers, started and took the loss. Adam Knobel pitched 2 innings of hitless and scoreless relief.

In the second game, which was delayed by rain for about 30 minutes, the Crusaders held a 3-0 lead entering the top of the sixth. Peickert's two-run blast to left in the first was the only scoring until Boggio's RBI triple in the fifth increased Valpo's lead to 3-0.

Oral Roberts inched closer on Campbell's two-out, two-run single in the sixth off reliever Adam Paetznick (1-1). The Golden Eagles tied the game at 3-3 in the seventh on Dennis Bigley's RBI single to left.

After relieving Paetznick with no outs and runners on first and second, Jordan Smolar struck out Grant Plumley. David Castillo was caught stealing third and Kevin Lamb had a two-ball, two-strike count with two outs when the rain emerged on Emory G. Bauer Field. When play resumed, Lamb forced a walk. Andrew Collup followed with a bloop single to center that was nearly caught by a diving Snyder, scoring both Bigley and Lamb.

Brandon Sadler hit a RBI double just inside the left field line for Valpo's final run. The Crusaders had the tying run on second, but were unable to score.

Dallas Martin (3-6) went the distance for ORU, allowing four runs and nine hits in 7 innings, while fanning nine and walking four. Tom Starck allowed just one hit and pitched shutout ball through 4 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked three. Paetznick hurled 1 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs and two hits.

Campbell had two hits for the Golden Eagles, who finished with four hits overall.

The two teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Sunday beginning at noon.