CRESTWOOD, Ill. – Offense and pitching perfectly aligned for the Roosevelt baseball team on Saturday, as the Lakers outscored visiting St. Francis (Ill.) 16-2 in completing a doubleheader sweep of the Fighting Saints at Ozinga Field.

The Lakers (9-22, 9-11 CCAC) won the opener 7-1 behind Zach Taylor's 3-for-4, three-RBI game and stellar pitching from Anthony Nicholas and Matt Donahue.

Roosevelt then completed the sweep of the Saints (21-17, 16-9 CCAC) as eight Lakers had two hits apiece to support Matt Garbacz's complete-game gem in a 9-1 decision.

RU broke a 1-1 tie in the opener with six unanswered runs, and Nicholas allowed just four hits while overcoming five walks in six stout innings. Donahue threw a perfect seventh with two Ks to preserve the win.

Taylor's big day included a go-ahead RBI double in the third. He had five total hits during the afternoon.

The Lakers jumped out to a big lead early in game two, scoring a combined seven runs in the first three innings as almost every Roosevelt hitter seemed to wield a hot bat during a 17-hit barrage.

That was more than enough for Garbacz, as the ace went the distance with nine innings of one-run ball that included nine punchouts.

Roosevelt will look to complete the series sweep Sunday, weather permitting, when the Lakers head to Joliet for the finale against USF.

Matt Garbacz was near unstoppable on the mound in the nightcap. (Photo: Chris Gbur)