Lakers, Fighting Saints Settle For CCAC Split

CRESTWOOD, Ill. – A rough second inning spoiled Roosevelt's day as it was forced into a split against St. Francis in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference action Sunday at Ozinga Field in Crestwood.

The Lakers (17-9, 6-4 CCAC) held on for a 6-5 win in the first game of the doubleheader after taking the lead for the final time in the bottom of the sixth inning. However, the Fighting Saints put up six runs in the second inning of the second game to run off with a 10-4 win in the nightcap to earn the split.

Neither team put up much of a struggle in the first few innings of the opener as Noah Mathias cruised through his first three innings on the mound for Roosevelt. In the bottom of the third, he picked up some run support with a little help from the St. Francis defense. Ben Compton opened the frame with a walk then Jojo Mack safely reached on a sacrifice bunt attempt due to an error on the Fighting Saints first baseman. Bryce Hayman worked a walk as well to bring up Daniel Gutierrez, who lined a sharp single down the right field line to bring in two runs. Sean Blanchard drove in Hayman on a double-play ball to stake the Lakers to a 3-0 lead through three innings.

The lead was shortlived, however, as Mathias allowed two two-run homers in the fourth inning to allow the Fighting Saints to surge into the lead. Undeterred, the same part of the Lakers lineup did more damage in their half of the fourth with Compton tying the game with a double down the left field line then Mack scoring him on a single. Unfortunately for Roosevelt, St. Francis answered right back in the top of the fifth to deadlock the score again.

After Mathias navigated a clean inning in the sixth, Mack had one more trick up his sleeve at the plate to rescue the Lakers. Diego Munoz walked to lead off the inning and a well-executed sacrifice bunt from pinch hitter Danny Holloway moved pinch runner Luca Paolucci up 90 feet. That set the stage for Mack, who delivered his second RBI on the day with a single into left field. Mack finished 2 for 2 with his two RBIs and one run scored in the opener.

It was a bumpy road for Mathias, who struck out six in the complete-game effort to notch his first win of the season. His final strikeout came in the top of the seventh inning with two outs and runners on second and third, preserving the Lakers lead by fanning the Fighting Saints' batter for the final out. Mathias allowed eight hits over the seven innings of work and was able to strand four runners on base.

Roosevelt fell behind early in the second game with St. Francis plating a pair of runs in the first inning on a triple off Bryan Green. The Lakers then stranded a pair of runners in the bottom of the inning after consecutive batters were hit by a pitch. It was a sign of things to come for the Lakers, who managed 15 hits in the second game but also left 12 men on base over the course of the nine innings.

Green managed to grind through six innings on the bump for the Lakers, surrendering just the eight runs in the first two innings with six hits and six walks. He did strike out nine Fighting Saints as well, including three in the horrendous second inning then two more in his final inning on the mound. Green allowed six runs on four hits in the second inning, with two walks, an intentional walk and one runner reaching via an error.

Already in an 8-0 hole, the Lakers started to claw back in the bottom of the second when Diego Munoz launched a homer to left field to lead off the frame. Sherman Martin went deep to center field in the third inning to make things even more interesting with his two-run blast. Yet Roosevelt left runners at second and third in the fourth inning then ran itself out of the seventh inning on a line-drive double play that caught pinch runner Jack Kieffer bolting to third base.

The Fighting Saints added two runs in the top of the seventh and the Lakers managed to scratch across one more run in the eighth inning on a Paolucci single. However, Roosevelt left the bases loaded to end that inning then lined into a game-ending double play with the bases loaded in the ninth.

Hunter Darst went 3 for 4 in the second game while Martin was 3 for 5 with his two RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Mack also kept up his hot hitting in the back half of the doubleheader, going 2 for 3 at the plate in the second game.

Roosevelt's scheduled non-conference matchup with Marian has been cancelled for Monday due to the threat of rain. Therefore, the Lakers return to action Friday back at Ozinga Field for a 3 p.m. first pitch against St. Xavier to kick off an important CCAC series.