Valparaiso University fifth-year senior Ellis Foreman hadn’t started a game all season, but he sure looked comfortable in a starting role in Game 2 of Sunday’s doubleheader against Wright State at Emory G. Bauer Field. Foreman did make 23 starts over his first four collegiate seasons, but few of them matched the caliber of Sunday’s gem.  

Foreman flipped a complete game shutout, the first complete game by a Valpo pitcher this season, and racked up 11 strikeouts as the Crusaders steamrolled their way to a 9-0 victory over Wright State in the second game of Sunday’s twin bill. That allowed Valpo to record a split against the perennial league powers after the Raiders eked out a 3-1 win in Game 1.

How It Happened – Game 1

• Wright State did all of its damage on Gabe Snyder home runs. His two-run blow in the first inning against Grant Inman started the scoring, then he added an insurance tally with a blast to right off Chet Joslyn in the eighth.
• Giovanni Garbella lifted a sacrifice fly in the fifth for Valpo’s only run. The Crusaders had a chance for more in that inning, but left the bases loaded.
• Inman took a tough-luck loss after allowing two runs on five hits in seven innings to fall to 3-5, while Zane Collins picked up the victory to move to 6-3 after yielding only one run on three hits in seven frames. Mark Meyer got his first save with two scoreless innings in relief for the Raiders.
• The Crusaders were limited to just three hits.

How It Happened – Game 2

• The Crusaders got all the offense they would need and more in the opening inning. Nate Palace started the scoring by ripping a two-run double to left, then a throwing error by Wright State starter Jeremy Randolph allowed two runs to score.
• Jake Hanson scored on a wild pitch, Scott Kapers hit a sac fly and Chase Dawson laced a double down the left field line. By the time the first inning ended, Valpo held a 6-0 advantage.
• Wright State starter Jeremy Randolph exited after three frames in which he allowed six earned runs on six hits and three walks. Trevor Swaney came on in relief and didn’t allow any damage until the sixth, when Valpo got two more to make it 8-0.
• James Stea reached on an error and Dawson scored an unearned run in the seventh to account for the final margin.
• Foreman was awarded the win to move to 2-1 and racked up 11 strikeouts while issuing no walks and scattering seven hits in the complete-game victory.

Next Up

The Crusaders will travel to Notre Dame on Tuesday for a game that begins at 5:05 p.m. CT. Links to live coverage will be available on ValpoAthletics.com.