Compton's Two Homers Power Lakers In Split

WHITING, Ind. – Ben Compton hit a pair of three-run home runs to lift Roosevelt to a split against Calumet St. Joseph in a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader Friday at Oil City Stadium in Indiana.

The fifth-year utility infielder tied the program record with his six RBIs in the second game, a 20-4 seven-inning win for the Lakers. The offensive outburst was enough to erase the pain of a 7-2 loss in the opener to the Crimson Wave after allowing six runs in the bottom of the sixth. The two teams will meet Saturday at Ozinga Field in Crestwood for the final two games of the four-game conference series with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.

Roosevelt (21-19, 12-12 CCAC) was in control of the first game Friday for the first five and a half innings despite holding a slim 2-1 lead. The two teams traded runs in the first inning before the Lakers pulled ahead in the fifth on a passed ball that allowed Aiden Brushaber to score. Jake Glickman cruised through his first five innings, allowing just three hits while racking up five strikeouts.

Glickman's only mistake of those first five innings was a solo home run that cancelled out James Berry's RBI single. He got his sixth punchout of the game to start the sixth inning then allowed three straight hits before being pulled from the game. The Lakers bullpen failed to stop the bleeding and Roosevelt left the sixth inning needing five runs in the top of the seventh.

The Lakers certainly put pressure on the Crimson Wave in the seventh inning, loading the bases with one out and the heart of the order coming to the plate. However, an unlucky play near third base allowed Calumet St. Joseph to claim the victory with a game-ending double play.

Fresh off the frustration of the first game, the Lakers came out ready to hit in the second game. Roosevelt scored two in the first inning then tacked on nine in the second and four in the third, brutalizing Calumet St. Joseph's pitching. However, the Lakers scored those 15 runs on just five hits thanks to a Crimson Wave error, nine walks and three batter hit by a pitch.

Jojo Mack reached to lead off the game and moved to second on the play. Bryce Hayman bunted Mack over to third and Kekoa Ogawa scored the run with a groundout. Berry wore a pitch then promptly stole second and third base. Luis Delgado drew a walk then both runners advanced 90 feet on a balk.

After Calumet St. Joseph scored three in the bottom of the frame, the Lakers responded with four hits and nine runs. The Crimson Wave walked the bases loaded to start the inning then beaned Hayman to tie the game. A passed ball gave the Lakers the lead again then Ogawa also was hit by a pitch to re-load the bases.

Berry drove in a pair with a single to left field and Delgado earned another walk to set the stage for Sebastian Casillas' two-run double. Sammy Estrada re-entered after being substituted out for a courtesy runner earlier in the inning and promptly uncorked a home run to cap off the inning.

Once again, the Lakers loaded the bases to start the third inning off walks and Casillas flared one to right for a sacrifice fly RBI. Two batters later, Compton rocketed his first home run of the game to give the Lakers a 15-4 edge after just nine outs. The senior's second long ball came in the fifth inning to pad Roosevelt's lead and become just the seventh player in program history to hit multiple home runs in a game.

Angel Morales settled in after allowing the three runs in the first and finished with six strikeouts in five innings of work. Kyle Winston and Cole Hofmann each pitched an inning of relief to secure the run-rule victory. Roosevelt finished its scoring in the top of the seventh with a two-run homer from Luca Paolucci.