Rosemont, Ill. – An epic 16-run inning propelled the Roosevelt softball team to an 18-9, run-rule victory over Viterbo on Saturday afternoon as the Lakers split their doubleheader with the visiting V-Hawks. Viterbo rallied from three runs down to edge Roosevelt, 4-3, in the first game of the twin-bill at the Ballpark at Rosemont.
The V-Hawks (6-12) seemed poised to sweep the doubleheader after jumping out to an early 7-0 lead in game two. As they have all year, though, the Lakers (3-11) did not let a large deficit deter them, and in the bottom of the third Roosevelt enjoyed an offensive inning for the record books.
The Lakers plated 16 runs on 15 hits in the frame, turning a seven-run deficit into a nine-run lead. In the inning 21 batters came to the plate with everyone in the lineup reaching base safely at least once and eight different hitters driving in runs. Senior Morgan Vogt (4-for-4) recorded three hits and drove in four runs while five of her teammates tabbed two hits in the inning.
The bottom of the third started with promise as Vogt, freshman Haley Huss and senior Katie Neubauer all singled with Neubauer's knock plating the Lakers' first run of the game. After senior Kristy Santora reached on a dropped third strike, which scored Huss, junior Bethany Hart (4-for-4, 3 RBI) tripled home two more runs to cut Vitbero's lead to 7-4. Senior Kelly Crowley followed with an RBI single to make it a two-run game.
V-Hawks pitcher Caitlyn Kozik surrendered a double to senior Sam Kusta, but then retired the next two batters. Not satisfied with just cutting into Viterbo's advantage, Vogt's second trip to the plate turned out to be the start of a second act to the Roosevelt rally. Her RBI single was followed by a two-run double off the bat of Huss that gave the Lakers an 8-7 lead. The line kept moving as the next nine batters reached base and Roosevelt added eight more tallies to the scoreboard, ending the inning with a 16-7 lead.
Viterbo showed its own resilience, answering with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Crowley matched that in the bottom of the frame with a two-run, inside-the-park home run for the final 18-9 margin.
Lakers senior Morgan Youskevtch shutout the V-Hawks in the fifth to end the game via run-rule. Youskevtch pitched three innings of relief for her first win of the season.
In the opener of the doubleheader, Emma Humphrey's RBI single in the top of the seventh proved to be the difference in a 4-3 V-Hawks come-from-behind victory.
Roosevelt owned an early 3-0 lead, but Viterbo rallied back with three in the fifth to tie the game. The contest remained knotted until the seventh when with one out Humphrey singled off of Roosevelt starting pitcher Vogt to plate Anna Lensmire, who had led off the inning with a double to deep centerfield.
Vogt attempted to spark a Roosevelt rally in the bottom of the seventh, leading off with an infield single to set the table for the heart of the order. Viterbo pitcher Kayla McInereney navigated the threat, getting the next three batters in order to end the game.
McInereney leveled her season record at 4-4 in the circle with the win. Vogt, the losing pitcher of record, fell to 1-4.
Seniors Neubauer and Crowley each had two hits for the Lakers in defeat. All three of Roosevelt's runs came with two outs in the bottom of the third inning. Huss drove home the first run with a single to left. Neubauer followed with a triple into the right-centerfield gap. The hit plated Huss from first with Neubauer also scoring on the play as the relay throw to third got away from the V-Hawks.
The Lakers will be back in action on Sunday as Aquinas visits the Ballpark at Rosemont for a doubleheader starting at 12:00 p.m.
