Bats Power Lakers To Sweep Of Cornerstone

DAVENPORT, Fla. – Roosevelt's bats did plenty of damage Friday to lift the Lakers to a sweep of Cornerstone in the first two games of their annual spring break trip in Florida.

The Lakers (6-3) opened the trip with a thrilling 9-8 victory over the Golden Eagles courtesy of a walk-off error on Ben Compton's grounder to third base. Roosevelt didn't need any help in the second game, capturing a victory 9-6 behind timely hitting and strong pitching from Omar Abuelhija.

In the first game against Cornerstone, Roosevelt scored in six of the seven innings of action, but once again had to fight back after a big inning from the opponent. This time, it was the Lakers rebounding from a six-run fourth inning from the Golden Eagles to tie and eventually win the game. Prior to that outburst, the Lakers led 3-0 with Compton drawing a bases-loaded walk in the first and Kekoa Ogawa launching a two-run single in the third.

Cornerstone's big inning earned an immediate response courtesy of Luis Delgado's rocket home run to right field in the bottom of the inning. Sammy Estrada blasted a solo shot of his own in the fifth and Jack Kieffer followed suit as the next batter to tie the game at 6. Compton earned another free pass with the bases loaded in the sixth inning after Cornerstone added a pair in the top of the frame. Estrada then tied the game again with a sacrifice fly.

Ogawa finished the game 3 for 4 with his two RBI as well as a walk and scored twice. Estrada was 2 for 3 while driving in two runs and scoring one of his own and Kieffer was a perfect 3 for 3 with an RBI and run scored.

Kieffer and Compton were back attacking in the second game also and both finished with three RBIs in the victory. Compton cleared the bases in the top of the first with a double into centerfield to give the Lakers an early 3-0 advantage. Bryce Hayman singled in a run in the second and Sebastian Castillas drove home a run with a double in the third inning. Kieffer unleashed a three-run homer in the fourth inning to put the Lakers up 8-0 with Abuelhija throwing a no-hitter.

Although Abuelhija did eventually surrender a hit, he left after 4.1 innings having allowed just two runs while striking out five. Ogawa came on to close out his second save of the season with three strikeouts in the four batters he faced. Delgado added an insurance run in the seventh on an RBI groundout.

Roosevelt continues its trip Saturday with a rare opportunity to face the No. 1 team in the nation in a true road contest as the Lakers battle Southeastern at 9:30 a.m. in their only contest of the day.