JOLIET, Ill. – Robert Morris (Ill.) broke open a close 2-0 game with a four-run top of the ninth and eliminated Roosevelt from the 2019 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Baseball Tournament by a final score of 6-0 at Route 66 Stadium on Monday.

After starting the season 0-16, the Lakers won 14 of their last 26 games to qualify for the program's second consecutive postseason appearance and finish 14-28 overall.

All-CCAC shortstop Matt Kozlak finished his outstanding collegiate career with a 2-for-4 performance.

Unfortunately the Lakers couldn't do much else offensively, as Roosevelt mustered four total hits against starter Brandon Hickey, who went seven and a third scoreless innings and struck out seven Lakers.

Robert Morris (30-18) struck first with an unearned run in the third inning after an error and a fielder's choice groundout.

The Eagles added a run in the sixth on a two-out RBI single.

The Lakers were still in the game, thanks to a solid outing by rookie starter Noah Mathias and three strong innings of relief by Anthony Nicholas, and Roosevelt eventually had something cooking in the eighth when the Lakers had a runner at second and just one out with Kozlak and fellow All-CCAC selection Parker Coleman due up. Reliever Tom Jager struck out Kozlak and pitched around the clutch Coleman to issue a free pass and bring the go-ahead run to the dish in the form of slugger Zach Taylor. Jager got Taylor looking to end the threat.

RMU put up a four-spot in the ninth as RU ace Matt Garbacz, gutting out shoulder wonkiness and short rest, struggled with command as he did all he could despite those challenges to prevent the Lakers' season from ending.

Frank Morales pitched a 1-2-3 ninth, getting Jake Hutchinson to strike out to end the game and conclude what had been a terrific late-season run by the RU 9.