VALPARAISO, Ind. - A monster fifth inning lifted Western Michigan softball over Valparaiso, 5-0, in a Tuesday afternoon non-conference showdown.

WMU entered the top of the fifth inning against the 2013 Horizon League champions without a hit.  The Broncos had loaded the bases when Sabrina Gamboa was hit by a pitch and Megan Stamm and Christina Pigozzi followed with back-to-back walks. The runners were stranded to keep the game scoreless.

In fact, neither team had mustered any offense to that point as the Crusaders only managed two hits through four innings off reigning Mid-American Conference West Division Pitcher of the Week Allyson Kus.  That all changed with the first batter of the fifth.

Melissa Palmer belted her first career home run over the right center field fence to lead off the frame, giving WMU a 1-0 lead.  Two batters later Loren Nagy sent a single through the left side.  Emma Bogart pinch ran for Nagy and Kelsea Cichocki followed with a base hit up the middle, ending the day for Valpo's starting pitcher. 

With a new pitcher in the circle Jenny Rohn kept the onslaught going with a single through the left side.  Two batters later, with the bases loaded, Stamm hit her third home run in the last five games and second grand slam.

Kus did the rest, setting down the final nine Crusaders that came to the plate to secure her third shutout and 16th complete game of the season.

Western Michigan resumes MAC play this weekend at Northern Illinois on April 5-6.