Lakers Begin Florida Trip With Sweep Of Blue Devils

MELBOURNE, Fla. – A pair of sterling pitching outings helped Roosevelt start off its annual spring break trip on a positive note Sunday.

The Lakers (3-7) played a doubleheader Sunday against Lawrence Tech before facing off with Concordia (Mich.) and Cornerstone on Monday. Roosevelt swept the twinbill with the Blue Devils with 1-0 and 5-2 victory before falling to the two Michigan schools the following day. Concordia edged out the Lakers 7-3 with four late runs and Cornerstone scored early and held on for a 5-1 victory.

Samantha Norman was electric in the Lakers' opener against Lawrence Tech, scattering three hits across seven shutout innings. The senior from Shorewood finished with nine strikeouts as well in keeping the game scoreless until Roosevelt struck in the top of the seventh. She escaped runners in scoring position in the second and sixth innings, striking out two of the three batters she faced in those situations.

Emily Zuniga doubled in the top of the seventh and advanced to third on Caitlin Williams' sacrifice. That set the stage for pinch hitter Madison Sullivan, who drove in the only run of the contest with a single. Ella Dvoracek and Scout Kram added the other two hits for the Lakers in the contest.

Kate Sisson was equally overpowering in her start against the Blue Devils, finishing the complete game with eight strikeouts and just four hits against. Athena Pomele-Pen supplied all the offense for Roosevelt with a 3 for 3 effort that included all five RBIs. Brynn Dvoracek and Kram were the only other two Lakers to record hits in the win, although the Lakers full took advantage of four errors from Lawrence Tech.

Pomele-Pen erased a 1-0 deficit with a three-run homer in the bottom of the third inning, scoring Kram and Anaisa Lozada. In the fifth inning, Pomele-Pen's single drove in Ella Dvoracek and Emma Wokurka to extend the lead to 5-1. Sisson allowed just one hit after the Blue Devils scored in the top of the third to secure her first win of the season.

Roosevelt jumped out to a strong start against Concordia on Monday with two runs in the first inning against a team receiving votes in the latest poll. Ella Dvoracek led off with a single then Kram reached on an error by the pitcher while attempting to lay down a sacrifice bunt. Kram immediately stole second before Dvoracek was thrown out trying to score on a wild pitch. That set the scene for Brynn Dvoracek to break through with a single through the left side.

Bailee Reynolds and Zungia followed with singles of their own to load the bases for Isabella Walton, who reached on an error by the Concordia third baseman that allowed Brynn Dvoracek to score. Norman worked around a base runner in each of the first three innings, but kept the Lakers in front 2-0 heading into the fourth.

Concordia took a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning, but the Lakers responded with Brynn Dvoracek bringing in Pomele-Pen with a fifth-inning single. That would be Roosevelt's last hit of the game as the Cardinals tacked on runs in the fifth and sixth to take the victory.

Cornerstone took an early 2-0 lead in the second inning, but once again Roosevelt was quick with a response. In the third inning, Ella Dvoracek singled to center field and Kram followed with a bunt single to move runners to the corners. Pomele-Pen stepped into the box and smashed a single that scored Dvoracek, but the rally ended there.

Kailey Hancock was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs in four innings in the circle while striking out four. Nicole Reynolds pitched the final two innings and gave up an unearned run on three hits while fanning a pair.

The Lakers' week in Florida continues Tuesday with games against No. 5 Marian and St. Thomas (Fla.) beginning at 1:30 p.m.