ROSEMONT, IL – The Roosevelt softball team settled for a split in its Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader with city rival Robert Morris on Thursday afternoon. The Lakers run-ruled the Eagles in the opening game, 8-0, in five innings. Robert Morris then bounced back to edge the Lakers, 5-4, in the nightcap at the Ballpark at Rosemont.
With the split, Roosevelt is now 14-25 on the season and 5-7 in the CCAC, while Robert Morris moves to 8-25, 2-8 in league action.
A seven-run explosion, highlighted by a pair of home runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, catapulted the Roosevelt softball team to victory over Robert Morris in game one.
The Lakers led 1-0 heading into the frame when sophomore Amanda Ferguson extended the advantage with a towering three-run home run to left field. It was Ferguson's first homer of the season. Roosevelt did not let the home run stop its rally. Three straight singles from Kelly Crowley, Morgan Vogt and Alexis Funk loaded the bases for Kristy Santora, who promptly cleared the bags with a double to centerfield that put the Lakers in front 7-0.
Santora was tagged out on the play as she overran second base, but two batters later Katie Neubauer ended the contest via run-rule with a solo home run to straightaway center. The long-ball was also the first of the year for Neubauer.
Crowley, Vogt and Funk each went 2-for-3 at the plate in the win to lead a 10-hit attack for the Lakers off of Robert Morris starter Jori Boren.
Vogt kept the Eagles off the scoreboard from the circle, collecting her third shutout and 10th overall win of the year while allowing just three hits over five innings of work.
The Lakers seemed to be working towards a doubleheader sweep, leading 2-1 with two outs in the fourth inning and Vogt cruising in the circle. The Eagles bats came alive, though, with four straight singles leading to three runs and a 4-2 Robert Morris advantage.
The two teams would trade runs in the fourth and sixth innings, respectively, as Roosevelt trailed 5-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh.
Things looked promising for a Lakers comeback as Vogt led off the seventh with a triple. Funk would plate Vogt with a sacrifice fly, but Eagles starter Bobbie Gottschamer snuffed out any further threats to collect the win.
Funk drove in a pair of runs for Roosevelt in game two, while Crowley, Jessica Taylor and Vogt each had two hits in the nightcap. Amelia Enberg also plated a run for the Lakers in the setback.
Vogt took the loss in the circle, falling to 10-11 on the season. She surrendered four runs on five hits in 4.1 innings.
Softball will be back in action tomorrow as they travel to Deerfield, Ill., to take on Trinity International in a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m.
