Lakers Rally Twice on Senior Day to Sweep Doubleheader Over St. Ambrose

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Roosevelt University softball team swept a CCAC doubleheader with St. Ambrose University on Saturday, April 23, winning the first game in comeback fashion by a score of 12-11 and then rallying a second time to win game two 7-6. The sweep takes the Lakers conference record to 9-8 and their overall record to 16-15 on the year.

Game one had a rocky start for the Lakers as the Fighting Bees plated five runs in the first inning. Roosevelt began creeping back with an Athena Pomele-Pen RBI double in the third inning and a bases load walk by Kaylee Ramirez in the fourth. However, two runs in the fourth and four in the fifth gave the Bees a 11-2 advantage. Facing the mercy rule in the fifth inning, the Lakers struck back. Kassie Kawka and Ashlyn Kitter, who each went 4-for-4 in the game, singled and scored in the inning. Anaisa Lozada and Pomele-Pen also drove in runs and the Lakers cut the lead to 11-8.

With two runs in the sixth, including a Kirstin Fudge RBI triple, and one more run in the seventh, the Lakers and Bees headed to extra innings tied at 11 apiece. In the eighth, Kawka once again singled to leadoff the inning. With the bases loaded and no outs, Kitter followed suit, driving in the game-winning run to secure the 12-11 win. Dayton Elliott got the win in the circle for the Lakers, pitching three scoreless innings to close out the game.

The Lakers bats stayed red hot to start game two, loading the bases for Kirstin Fudge who ripped a two out single and Kelly Farmer who walked to give the home team a 2-0 lead. The Lakers then increased the margin in the fourth on an RBI single from Pomele-Pen and a grounder from Kassie Kawka with runners on second and third.

Unfortunately, the Lakers 4-0 lead did not last and the Bees answered with six runs of their own in sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, with the Lakers dugout full of rally caps, Pomele-Pen delivered yet another RBI single. Now down one run, Kawka continued her success as well, scoring pinch hitter Emma Wokurka on a single to right. With the game now tied, Brynn Dvoracek drove in Kawka to give the Lakers a 7-6 lead. The game two win went to Samantha Norman who got the last six outs of the game for the Lakers.

Postgame, the Lakers celebrated their 2022 senior class including pitcher Hailey Getz, infielder Sabrina Treccani, and outfielder Ashlyn Kitter.

GAME ONE DETAILS (8 Innings)

W: Dayton Elliott (6-2)                  L: Erica Ralfs (14-3)

Records: Roosevelt 15-15, 8-8 (CCAC) | St. Ambrose 25-9, 9-6 (CCAC)

Location: The Ballpark at Rosemont | Rosemont, Ill.

KEY STATS

• Senior Ashlyn Kitter was 4-for-4 with a double, one RBI, & a run scored
• Kassie Kawka went 4-for-4 with two RBIs & four runs scored
• Anaisa Lozada was 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, & three runs scored
• Athena Pomele-Pen went 3-for-5 with two doubles & two RBIs
• Jessica Schneider was 1-for-5 with a run scored
• Brynn Dvorcek was 1-for-3 with one RBI
• Kirstin Fudge went 2-for-5 with a triple, one RBI, & a run scored

GAME TWO DETAILS

W: Samantha Norman (1-4)                  L: Maria Provenzano (3-3)

Records: Roosevelt 16-15, 9-8 (CCAC) | St. Ambrose 25-10, 9-7 (CCAC)

Location: The Ballpark at Rosemont | Rosemont, Ill.

KEY STATS

• Athena Pomele-Pen was 2-for-4 with two RBIs
• Brynn Dvorcek went 3-for-4 with one RBI & one run scored
• Kirstin Fudge went 1-for-3 with one RBI
• Ashlyn Kitter was 0-for-1 but scored two runs
• Kassie Kawka went 1-for-3 with two RBIs & two runs scored
• Samantha Norman finished the game in the circle pitching two scoreless innings

NEWS & NOTES

• Click here to view the current CCAC Conference standings

NEXT UP

The Lakers head to Lincoln, Illinois for their next CCAC Conference doubleheader as they take on the Lynx from Lincoln College on Tuesday, April 26.  First pitch of game one is scheduled for 3pm.