PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. – Roosevelt's late rally fell short Thursday with a 9-4 loss to Trinity Christian in Palos Heights, ending the Lakers' four-game winning streak with their first setback in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play.

The Lakers (13-6, 2-1 CCAC) scored all four of their runs in the final two innings after falling into an early hole in the game. Roosevelt stranded two runners on base in the top of the first inning, squandering a chance to take the early lead. The Trolls did not miss out on their opportunity with two runs on four hits against Noah Mathias in the bottom of the inning.

Roosevelt didn't send more than the minimum to the plate in the second through fifth innings, twice ending frames by grounding into double plays. All the while, Trinity Christian slowly built its lead by scoring a run in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings off Mathias. The grad student allowed 11 hits and seven runs – six of which were earned – in 6 2/3 innings, striking out five in the process.

Jojo Mack ignited some offense for the Lakers in the sixth inning with a one-out single that he followed up by stealing second base. Sean Blanchard followed with a single to put runners on the corners before Hunter Darst grounded into the inning-ending double play. The Trolls led 7-0 after seven innings, but the Lakers showed some life offensively in the eighth.

Jesus Gomez legged out an infield single then Jack Toenjes slapped a pinch-hit single into center field and Mack worked a walk to load the bases with one out. Darst delivered with an RBI single to put the Lakers on the board before Jaylen Heard ended the frame with a hard-hit grounder to third base for the final out. Unfortunately for the Lakers, the Trolls added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth to increase the pressure on the Roosevelt bats.

Undeterred, the Roosevelt lineup sprung to life in the ninth inning, starting with a single from Sherman Martin to lead off the frame. Ben Compton worked a walk and Luca Paolucci forced an error from the pitcher, allowing Martin to score on the poor throw. The Trinity Christian third baseman misfired on a Gomez grounder, allowing the shortstop to reach base and Compton to score. After Toenjes provided the first out of the inning, Mack scored a fourth run by hitting into a fielder's choice then advanced 90 feet on a wild pitch, but that was as far as he would advance.

The Lakers had half of their eight hits come in the eighth and ninth innings as they stranded seven runners on base in the loss. Darst finished 2 for 4 on the game, the only Roosevelt hitter with multiple hits, while Mack reached base in three of his four plate appearances with one hit and two walks.   

Roosevelt and Trinity Christian will tangle again Monday at 11 a.m. at Ozinga Field for a doubleheader to close out the series.