Lakers Open Spring Break Trip With Split

COCOA, Fla. – Roosevelt opened the USSSA Spring Break Games on Sunday by splitting a pair of games in Florida to run its record to 3-5 overall.

In the first game of the day, the Lakers fell 3-2 to Michigan Dearborn as they could not muster enough two-out magic to overcome the Wolverines. Five of Roosevelt's seven hits in the game, including both run-scoring hits, came with two outs in the inning. Bailee Reynolds provided an RBI double in the first inning then Brynn Dvoracek slammed an RBI single in the seventh to prolong the game.

Scout Kram worked an important leadoff walk to kickstart the Lakers offense then advanced to second on a well-executed sacrifice bunt from Emily Zuniga. The speedy outfielder then stole third to put herself in prime position for Reynolds to smack her double into right center field. The first inning actually was the only at-bat in which Dvoracek didn't reach base as she finished 3 for 4 against the Wolverines.

Michigan Dearborn tied the game with a two-out homer off Kate Sisson in the bottom of the first, but the senior buckled down to escape the inning. Sisson was pitching well into the fourth inning until she walked three batters in a four-hitter sequence to give the Wolverines the slim lead. Samantha Norman came on in relief in the fifth when an error allowed a two-out runner to reach base. Consecutive stolen bases came back to haunt the Lakers on a well-struck double to increase the lead to 3-1.

Roosevelt created some offense in the sixth after Eliza Belter was hit by a pitch and Madalyn Anderson came off the bench to deliver a pinch-hit single. However, Madison Sullivan's line-drive was snared by the Wolverines first baseman who doubled off the runner at first to end the threat. Dvoracek's seventh-inning single scored Norman from second, but Reynolds struck out to end the game.

The Lakers quickly bounced back, though, and took down Lourdes 8-5 behind a sixth-inning surge that gave freshman Seren Horton her first collegiate win. The Gray Wolves tied the game in the top of the sixth off Horton, but Roosevelt responded with Dvoracek reaching on a fielder's choice then advancing to second on an error. Athena Pomele-Pen then laced a double that scored both Dvoracek and Reynolds for the final margin of victory.

Reynolds earned a quick RBI in the first inning with a sacrifice bunt that allowed Kram to score after she led off the game with a single. Kirstin Fudge then doubled the lead with a single up the middle that allowed Zuniga to score. In the third inning, Belter stepped up and rocketed a double to left field that scored a pair to make it 4-0 Roosevelt after three.

While the offense was staying hot, Norman was keeping Lourdes' batters in check with just one single and a fielder's choice in the opening three innings. The Gray Wolves did strike for three runs in the fourth inning, but after a scoreless inning of relief from Sisson, Roosevelt added to the lead with Sullivan's pinch-hit single in the fifth.

Kram and Pomele-Pen both had two hits in the win over Lourdes while Zuniga and Reynolds both scored twice in the victory.

The Lakers continue their spring break trip with two more games Monday. Roosevelt will face St. Thomas at 8 a.m. then return to the field at 1 p.m. against Marian.