JOLIET, Ill. – The Roosevelt baseball team put the tying run at second in the top of the ninth inning of the Lakers' doubleheader finale at St. Francis on Wednesday, but the Green and White's late fight fell short against the Fighting Saints at Silver Cross Field.

A three-run seventh by St. Francis (22-14, 10-2 CCAC) erased a one-run lead for the Lakers (5-19, 1-10 CCAC) and proved to be just enough to hold off Roosevelt's final surge in a 4-3 decision for the hosts.

The Lakers mustered just a fourth-inning double off the bat of Danny Grzywa in the opener against St. Francis starter Jake Butler, who struck out nine Lakers to keep the guests off the scoreboard in a 5-0 Fighting Saints victory.

Grzywa had hits in each game and two RBI in the nightcap, while Alex Neufeld went 2-for-5 with an RBI in the second contest.

Jared Jayne allowed just one earned run in the second game, while T.J. Davis pitched an inning of scoreless relief.

In the second contest, St. Francis broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth after a pair of errors loaded the bases, and a free pass to David Kuhne drove in the game's first run.

Roosevelt responded with two outs in the top of the seventh. Mike Zajac drew a leadoff walk, and after starter Charlie Ludolph retired the next two batters, Nate Bukowski followed with a single to keep the inning alive. That set the stage for the younger Neufeld, who singled up the middle to bring in Zajac and even the game.

The frame continued with another single up the middle, as Grzywa did the honors this time to bring in the go-ahead run.

Unfortunately the lead didn't last long for the Lakers, as the hosts put up a three-spot in the next half-inning. A leadoff single and an error on a fielder's choice set up Matt Scott's two-run double to put St. Francis back up, and the Saints tacked on a critical insurance run on a sac fly off the bat of Brad Porter.

That last run became important as the Lakers attempted to rally again in the ninth. A leadoff walk to Michael Lally brought in Porter from right to close out the game, and he didn't find it easy. Niko Morado singled to put two on with no out, and after a failed sacrifice bunt got the lead runner at third, Neufeld stepped up with another big hit that loaded the bases.

Grzywa was clutch again at the dish, hitting a sac fly to right that brought in pinch runner Kevin Babica from third. The comeback stayed alive as Nathan Greene was hit by a pitch to move Neufeld into scoring position with the game-knotting tally.

Porter faced Roosevelt home run leader Dylan Grabowski next, and the reliever got Grabowski looking on a called third strike to conclude Roosevelt's valiant effort.

The Lakers out-hit the Fighting Saints 9-8 in the nightcap.

The first game wasn't as close, as Roosevelt could only produce Grzywa's two-bagger and three runners on base in total over the course of seven innings against Butler.

Roosevelt hosts Purdue Calumet at Standard Bank Stadium on Thursday beginning at 3 p.m.