Norman's Gutsy Effort Not Enough For Lakers

CROWN POINT, Ind. – A standout effort in the circle from Samantha Norman was not enough to keep Roosevelt in the winner's bracket of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament on Thursday evening in Crown Point, Ind.

The senior righty threw 10 2/3 innings in relief but took the hard-luck loss on an unearned run in the 14^th inning as sixth-seeded Olivet Nazarene defeated the third-seeded Lakers 6-5. Norman allowed just two runs, only one of which was earned, while striking out seven in her heroic outing.

Norman inherited a 4-0 deficit then proceeded to befuddle the Tigers hitters enough to allow the Lakers' bats to warm up to tie the game. After entering in the third inning, Norman promptly induced a groundout and struck out her first batter of the game to escape the jam. Norman held her composure in several tricky moments throughout the game before an error finally allowed the winning run to score.

In the fifth inning, Norman stranded a runner on second with back-to-back strikeouts after a double gave Olivet Nazarene a 5-2 edge. The Tigers also threatened in the 11^th with a leadoff double and the runner moved to third on an error in the field to put runners on first and third with no one out. Norman simply induced a pair of fielder's choices that kept the winning run at third and picked up an out at second base before an inning-ending flyout.

The composure in the circle from Norman gave Roosevelt (16-21) some time to strike back against the Tigers pitching. In the fourth inning, Brynn Dvoracek worked a leadoff walk then Emily Zuniga laid down a beautiful bunt single. A sacrifice bunt from Isabella Walton moved both runners into scoring position and Olivet Nazarene delivered with a passed ball for the first run to score. Caitlin Williams then had an RBI groundout to cut the deficit.

Zuniga was again at the start of the rally in the sixth inning that eventually tied the game, leading off the frame with a single. Walton walked and Williams had an infield single to load the bases and give the Lakers their best chance at tying the game. Scout Kram grounded out to the shortstop, but drove in Zuniga, before Athena Pomele-Pen tied the game with a two-run single into center field.

While Norman was dealing in the circle, the Lakers struggled to move runners over after tying the game, however. Only one runner reached second base in the seventh inning or later, and that came in the top of the 14^th when Bailee Reynolds led off the inning with a single then pinch runner Chloee Boros moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.

Roosevelt will now drop down to the losers' bracket portion of the conference tournament bracket and will face fourth-seeded Trinity Christian at 3 p.m. on Friday in Crown Point. Should the Lakers defeat the Trolls, they would play immediately afterward at 5 p.m. against the winner of the game between fifth-seeded St. Ambrose and the loser of Olivet Nazarene against St. Francis.