Lakers End Florida Trip With Much-Needed Victory

MELBOURNE, Fla. – Roosevelt struck for three runs in the top of the seventh inning to snap a seven-game losing streak in the closing game of the USSSA Space Coast Games in Melbourne, Fla. on Friday afternoon.

The Lakers (4-12) broke a 3-3 tie to defeat Dakota Wesleyan 6-3 in their final game of their spring break trip to Florida. Earlier in the day, Roosevelt fell 6-5 in eight innings to St. Francis (Ind.) but broke a 33-inning scoreless streak in the process.

Roosevelt struck first against Dakota Wesleyan courtesy of an error from the Tigers as Brynn Dvoracek scored on a ground ball from Isabella Walton. Scout Kram then stepped up to the plate and smacked a single into left field to score Ella Dvoracek and give the Lakers an early 2-0 advantage. After the Tigers tied the game in the fourth inning, the Lakers reclaimed the lead in the fifth inning with Anaisa Lozada tripling to left field then scoring on another Dakota Wesleyan error.

Yet when the seventh inning came around in a tied game, the Lakers offense was ready with three runs on four hits. It began with a Lozada single to left field and a Hailey Denton sacrifice bunt to move pinch runner Nicole Reynolds to second. With two away in the inning, Brynn Dvoracek gave the Lakers the lead with a single then took second base on the throw home to try and nab Reynolds. However, the Tigers catcher made an error and Dvoracek ended up coming around to score herself.

Madison Sullivan entered as a pinch hitter for Ella Dvoracek and was promptly hit by a pitch before Dvoracek was re-entered to run. Walton hit a single to put runners on first and second then Kram delivered her third hit of the game with a run-scoring single. Kate Sisson threw a near flawless bottom of the seventh for her second win of the season. The senior allowed three runs on eight hits and struck out three in the complete-game effort.

Samantha Norman started in the circle for the Lakers against St. Francis and immediately found herself in trouble after a leadoff single ended up at third. Yet the senior struck out the side after that for half of her six strikeouts over three innings of work during which she allowed an unearned run and three hits. Roosevelt again took an early lead when Athena Pomele-Pen led off the second inning with a walk then eventually scored on a passed ball following singles from Emily Zuniga and Norman.

The Cougars took a 3-1 lead into the sixth inning, but an error by the second baseman allowed Zuniga to move from first to third and Brynn Dvoracek to reach base. Bailee Reynolds immediately made St. Francis pay for the mistake with a triple to right field that tied the game. In the seventh, the Lakers had their first chance to win the game after Lozada doubled into left field to score Ella Dvoracek. In the eighth inning, the Lakers took advantage of the runner placed on second base as Brynn Dvoracek brought home Pomele-Pen with a groundout.

Roosevelt will travel to Madonna, which received votes in the latest poll, on March 15 for a doubleheader against the Crusaders starting at 1 p.m.