Lakers Close Out Florida Trip With 5-4 Victory Over Eighth-Ranked Keiser

AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The Roosevelt University baseball team closed out its spring Florida trip with a 5-4 victory over eighth-ranked Keiser University (Fla.) on Saturday, March 5 at Lake Myrtle Park.  The win raised the Lakers overall record to 3-8 on the year.

Keiser took an early lead in the game, scoring a first inning run on two hits, and the Lakers answered with a solo run of their own in the bottom of the third inning.  Diego Blanco led off with a double down the right field line and scored on a base hit by Andrew Olszewski to tie the game up.

The Seahawks then scored three runs in the top of the fifth to take a 4-1 lead and force out RU starting pitcher Noah Mathias for reliever Krzysztof Solis.  However, the Lakers loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning on base hits by Blanco and Jojo Mack to go with a walk by Jesus Gomez.  Olszewski then grounded into a fielder's choice to bring home Blanco and cut the deficit to 4-2.

Roosevelt kept up its scoring in the next inning as well, with Trevor Heinlein earning a leadoff walk and Jaylen Heard following with his first home run of the season to make it a 4-4 ballgame.  The Lakers loaded the bases once again on singles by Hunter Darst and Gomez and a walk by Mack.  A wild pitch then brought in Danny Holloway, who pinch ran for Darst, for the eventual game-winning run.

GAME DETAILS

Score:   Keiser                   1  0  0  0  3  0  0  0  0        4   9   1
                Roosevelt            0  0  1  0  1  3  0  0  X        5   9   2

Records: Roosevelt 3-8 | Keiser 15-8

Location: Lake Myrtle Park | Auburndale, Fla.

KEY STATS

• Jaylen Heard went 1-for-4 with a home run & two RBI
• Diego Blanco was 2-for-4 with a double & two runs scored
• Andrew Olszewski went 1-for-4 with two runs batted in
• Trevor Heinlein was 1-for-3 with a run scored
• Krzysztof Solis earned the win to move to 2-0 on the year, going 4 2/3 innings & allowing  one run on three hits to go with two strikeouts
• Noah Mathias started the game on the mound, pitching 4 1/3 innings & allowing three runs on six hits, while striking out four & walking two

NEWS & NOTES

• Keiser is ranked #8 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 Poll
• This was the first meeting between the Lakers & Seahawks
• The Lakers went 2-5 on their Florida trip

NEXT UP

The Lakers will make their 2022 home debut on Saturday, March 12 versus the University of Michigan-Dearborn in a non-conference doubleheader.  First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12pm at Ozinga Field in Crestwood, Ill.