Zeese Shines in Game 1; Lakers Roar Back in Game 2 to Sweep CCAC Doubleheader

CRESTWOOD, Ill. – The Roosevelt University baseball team swept Trinity International University in a CCAC doubleheader on Saturday, April 9. The Lakers dominated game one, winning 5-0, before donning their rally caps in game two to overcome an eight-run deficit to win 18-8 in seven innings. With the two wins, the Lakers are now 8-6 in conference play and 14-15 overall this season.

On the mound, Kerry Zeese controlled game one from the opening pitch, throwing a seven-inning complete game shutout. Pitching efficiently all afternoon, Zeese gave up just two hits while striking out six Trojans on just 84 pitches.

With Zeese dealing on the mound, the Lakers did not need much offensively, but delivered early. The Lakers took the lead for good in the bottom of the first inning when Nick McAlister singled and later scored on a fielding error. Roosevelt added to the margin in the second thanks to an RBI triple from Andrew Olszewski, who later scored on a fielder's choice. After two, the Lakers were firmly in control with a 4-0 lead, adding one more run in the fifth to win by a final of 5-0.

Game two was a wild affair. After a scoreless first inning, defensive struggles for the Lakers led to eight unearned runs for the Trojans in the second. Despite the lapse, the Lakers did not quit and struck back with two runs on a single up the middle by Daniel Gutierrez.

Down six runs, the Lakers roared back in a big way in the third behind nine hits. In the inning, six different players got in on the action and tallied RBIs. Jaylen Heard and Andrew Olszewski drove runs in on two separate at bats during the inning, with each adding two RBIs the second time through the lineup. When all was said and done in third, the Lakers scored 10 runs and led 12-8.

With the lead now in hand, Roosevelt kept the foot on the gas offensively. The Lakers increase the lead by scoring one, two, and three runs in the next three innings respectively. With the lead now 18-8, Kyle Winston entered the game on the mound in the top of the seventh to get the final three outs to finalize the doubleheader sweep for the Lakers.

GAME ONE DETAILS (7 innings)

Score:   Trinity International          0  0  0  0  0  0  0                   0    2    2
                Roosevelt                        1  3  0  1  0  0  x                   5    6    0

W: Kerry Zeese (3-1)       L: Max Amendt (1-2)          

Records: Roosevelt 13-15, 7-6 (CCAC) | Trinity International 10-18, 3-11 (CCAC)

Location: Ozinga Field | Crestwood, Ill.

KEY STATS

• Kerry Zeese pitch seven scoreless innings while striking out six
• Nick McAlister went 1-for-3 with a run scored & an RBI
• Andrew Olszewski was 2-for-3 with an RBI triple and two runs scored
• Trevor Heinlein went 3-for-4 with a double & two RBIs
• Jonathan Salm added a run and RBI

GAME TWO DETAILS (7 innings)

Score:   Trinity International          0  8  0   0  0  0  0                   8    11   3
                Roosevelt                        0  2 10  1  2  3  x                  18   18   6

W: Bryan Green (1-0)       L: Dominik Olech (4-3)

Records: Roosevelt 14-15, 8-6 (CCAC) | Trinity International 10-19, 3-12 (CCAC)

Location: Ozinga Field | Crestwood, Ill.

KEY STATS

• Daniel Gutierrez went 3-for-5 with a double, three RBIs, and a run scored
• Jojo Mack was 1-for-3 with two runs scored
• Andrew Olszewski went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored
• Jaylen Heard went 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs, and three runs scored
• Hunter Darst went 4-for-5 with two RBIs and four runs scored 
• Nick McAlister went 1-for-4 and scored once 
• Sean Blanchard went 1-for-2 with a double, two RBIs, and two runs scored
• Luca Paolucci scored once as a pinch runner
• Danny Halloway went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and one run scored
• Bryan Green gave up zero earned runs in six inning, striking out three

NEWS & NOTES

• The Lakers are up 2-0 in the season series with the Trojans
• Click here to view the current CCAC Conference standings

NEXT UP

The Lakers finish their CCAC series with Trinity International on Sunday, April 10. The home contest for the Trojans will be played at a neutral site as both teams will travel to Elgin, Illinois to play at Judson University. First pitch is scheduled for 3pm.