Cougars Get Better Of Lakers In CCAC Doubleheader

CHICAGO – Roosevelt's offense couldn't muster enough to avoid a sweep to league-leading St. Xavier on Saturday in a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader in Chicago.

The Lakers (14-12, 6-6 CCAC) fell behind early and could not recover in the opening game, falling 8-0 in a run-rule-shortened five-inning affair. They responded in the second game behind a spectacular effort from Samantha Norman in relief, but could not overcome two early runs in a 2-1 setback.

Roosevelt was able to apply some early pressure onto the Cougars in the first game after Athena Pomele-Pen led off the game with a single through the left side. The Lakers were able to move her up to third base with two outs, but left her hanging 60 feet away. By the time Roosevelt got their second hacks at the plate, St. Xavier had mashed five hits and scored four runs off Kate Sisson in the bottom of the inning.

Sisson was able to work around a two-out single in the second and the Lakers seemed to be building some momentum in the top of the third. Pomele-Pen sent a liner back up the middle with two away to reach base for the second time and Anaisa Lozada followed with a single into right field. However, Pomele-Pen tried to speed around to third on Lozada's hit and a well-timed throw from the outfield was on the mark for the final out of the inning.

The Cougars tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the third off Sisson and Seren Horton came on in relief. The junior calmed down the Cougars and didn't allow a single hit while retiring all four batters she faced the remainder of the game. The Lakers, though, didn't come close to extending the game, managing just a single in the fourth and fifth innings to cement a 10^th straight loss against the Cougars.

Although the skid was extended to 11 in the second half of the doubleheader, the 2-1 scoreline was the first time Roosevelt lost by less than eight runs against St. Xavier in a regular-season matchup since 2019. Horton got the start for the second game after her shutout for the final four outs of the first game. Yet she walked the first batter she faced and hit two of the next three batters she faced. St. Xavier ripped a two-run single down the left-field line for its first hit off Horton, and that was all the damage the Cougars needed.

Horton ran into some more trouble to start the second inning by giving up three singles to load the bases before she recorded an out via a lineout. Norman took over in the circle and induced a pair of grounders to prevent the Cougars from scoring. The junior allowed just three hits in 4 2/3 innings of relief work, and two of those hits came with two outs in the sixth inning. Only one runner reached second base against Norman after she entered the circle after starting the game in left field.

The Lakers had some chances early against the Cougars in the second game by putting runners on first and second with two outs in both of the first two innings. It wasn't until the fifth, however, that Roosevelt was able to convert when Lozada began a two-out rally with a single up the middle. Kirstin Fudge ripped a single to center field that moved Lozada to third then Bailee Reynolds drove a double into right field. Lozada scored and Fudge was held up at third to leave the tying run 60 feet away for Norman, who was robbed of a hit that could have given the Lakers the lead.

Emma Wokurka worked a 14-pitch at-bat then singled to the catcher to lead off the seventh inning, setting the stage for Pomele-Pen to move her over with a bunt. The rally ended there as both Lozada and Fudge were unable to sneak hard-hit balls past the infield. Lozada and Reynolds both had two hits in the second game to cap off productive days for the pair. Reynolds finished 3 for 5 with the Lakers' sole RBI while Lozada was 3 for 5 with Roosevelt's only run.

Roosevelt's scheduled doubleheader Sunday against Calumet St. Joseph's has been postponed due to inclement weather in the forecast. The Lakers will now return to action Thursday in Rosemont against Trinity International with the first game of the doubleheader scheduled for 4 p.m.