March 30, 2008

Final Stats

Contact: Greg Murphy

VALPARAISO, Ind. - Josh Hungerman and John Foco combined to go 7-for-9 with three runs and three RBI and Anthony Sambula worked 4.1 innings in relief, allowing no runs on just one hit, as the Vikings topped Valparaiso, 7-5, in the finale of a three-game series on Sunday afternoon at Emory G. Bauer Field.

The Vikings improved to 7-9 overall and 2-1 in the Horizon League, while Valparaiso slipped to 6-18 overall and 2-3 in conference play.

"It wasn't pretty, but we'll take the win," head coach Kevin Kocks said. We easily could of had three or four more runs if we had stayed within our system, but to get two out of three to open conference play feels good."

Sambula, who was making just his third appearance of the season, picked up his first collegiate win with 4.1 strong innings in relief of starter Sam Suitca. Sambula allowed just one hit, while striking out three.

"Anthony is going to be a mid-week starter for us," Kocks said. "This was the perfect situation for him to come into and it gave him a chance to throw some innings. We knew he could get it done and it's a great way for him to get his first career win."

Valpo's Derek Smith took the loss, giving up one run on two hits in 0.2 innings of work.

The game didn't start out well for CSU, as Valparaiso put three runs on the board in the first inning on a three-run homer by Josh Wallace.

Dan DeBruin started the inning with a single and Josh Rodeghero followed with a one-out single to put runners on first and third for Wallace, who delivered his seventh homer of the season.

The Vikings came back with a single run in the third on an RBI single from Hungerman and tied the game at 3-3 with two runs in the fifth.

Kyle Bischof started the rally with a one-out solo homer, his fourth of the season. Two batters later, Hungerman doubled, but Josh Geric was thrown out at the plate. Hungerman would come around to score and tied the game at 3-3 on a double by Foco.

However, the lead was short lived as the Crusaders responded with two runs in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run homer by Rodeghero.

The game stayed that way until the seventh when CSU plated three runs to take a 6-5 lead. Hungerman started the rally with a one-out single, stole second and moved to third on a single by Foco.

Both runners would move up a base, with Hungerman scoring, on a passed ball. A double by David Hurd allowed Foco to score easily from third and tie the game at 5-5 and Tom Carter followed with an RBI single that scored Hurd for a 6-5 CSU lead.

Foco delivered a sacrifice fly RBI in the eighth for an insurance run.

CSU is slated to return to action on Tuesday, April 1, when the Vikings host Eastern Michigan at 4:00 p.m. at the Pipe Yard. It will be the home opener for the Vikings.