Lakers Sweep Fighting Bees To Even CCAC Record

CLINTON, Iowa – Roosevelt returned the favor to St. Ambrose on Saturday, sweeping the Fighting Bees in a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader on their home field to earn an overall split in the season series.

The Lakers (20-17, 11-11 CCAC) took the first game of the set 4-3 with all four of their runs coming in the third inning. They then came back to hold off St. Ambrose 6-3 in the second game behind a strong effort on the mound from Caleb Moore and Kellan Turner.

Neither team was able to do much damage in the first two innings of the day, setting the stage for Roosevelt's sole offense in the opener. Jojo Mack began the attack by reaching first base on a passed ball on strike three then Bryce Hayman was hit by the pitch. Kekoa Ogawa unleashed his second double of the day to drive in both runs then James Berry completed the circuit with a single that scored Ogawa.

Sebastian Casillas lined a single into right field that sent Berry to third base, setting up an odd sequence. The second baseman attempted to steal second base and the St. Ambrose catcher made a poor throw, allowing Berry to score and Casillas to win up at third base.

Omar Abuelhija avoided the big innings that the Lakers could not Friday, limiting the damage in St. Ambrose's half of the third to just a single run. The senior was able to navigate out of most trouble until the sixth inning when consecutive hits and a fielding error brought home two runs and put the tying run on base.

Abuelhija successfully initiated a pickoff move to get a second out, but one triple later, the Lakers turned to Connor Collins for a four-out save. Collins did his part, retiring four of the five batters he faced for his second save of the season.

The Fighting Bees scored an unearned run in the second inning of the second game to open the scoring, but the Lakers responded in the fourth. Ogawa and Berry hit back-to-back doubles to lead off the frame and tie the game then Casillas gave Roosevelt the lead with a single through the right side that scored Berry.

Roosevelt broke the game open with a three-run sixth inning that featured just one hit, a Casillas single that loaded the bases to start the frame. Berry was hit by a pitch as the first batter of the inning then Ben Compton reached first courtesy of an error. After Casillas' single, Sammy Estrada worked an RBI walk and Aidan Brushaber flew out to deep centerfield for a sacrifice fly and RBI. Luca Paolucci reloaded the bases by wearing a pitch then Hayman was also beaned, scoring the third run of the inning.

Moore was charged with the Fighting Bees' run in the sixth inning after allowing the first two batters to reach base, exiting after five innings while allowing five hits. Turner took over and allowed just one run on three hits over the final four innings to close out the win for Roosevelt. Turner also received some offensive support from Ogawa, who ripped his fourth double of the day down the left-field line to score Hayman in the eighth inning.

The Lakers will take a quick break from CCAC play for a midweek road trip to Lewis on Wednesday with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. against the NCAA Division II Flyers.