AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Roosevelt's depth was on full display to help the Lakers continue their program-best start by sweeping a doubleheader against Northwestern (Iowa) at the RussMatt Invitational on Tuesday in Florida.

The Lakers rallied with three runs in the sixth inning to outlast the Raiders 8-7 in the first half of the doubleheader. They then controlled the second game for an 8-4 victory to remain perfect in their four games during their spring break trip. Roosevelt's 9-4 start is comfortably the team's best start to a season since the program was introduced for the 2011 season when the school began its athletics program.

Roosevelt's bats wasted no time hammering the Northwestern pitching with four runs in the first inning despite Bryce Hayman being forced to leave the game in the opening inning. Hayman led off the game with a walk but was then thrown out at second on Daniel Gutierrez's single into right field. Gutierrez quickly stole second and Sean Blanchard drew a walk before Jojo Mack moved the runners over with a groundout. Diego Munoz, who was named the CCAC Player of the Week earlier in the day, singled to left to score a pair to kick off a string of four straight singles that gave the Lakers an early 4-0 lead.

The lead was unfortunately short-lived as the Raiders responded with four runs of their own in the bottom of the first then took the lead with a run in the second. Roosevelt gifted Northwestern three of those runs due to errors after committing five over the course of the seven-innigng game. Omar Abuelhija settled down after the shaky start and was able to work out of trouble in the fifth inning by stranding the bases loaded.

Abuelhija escaping the bases-loaded jam in the fifth was important after the Lakers tied the game in the top half of the frame on a Northwestern error. It also set up a vital sixth inning with Jaylen Heard getting plopped with a pitch to lead it off. Another Raiders error allowed AJ Gliwa to reach on a sacrifice bunt attempt and Sherman Martin followed with an RBI single. A double steal set the table for Gutierrez, who launched a double to center field to score both runners and give the Lakers an 8-5 lead.

Connor Houlahan came on for the six-out save, and after breezing through the sixth, was able to get two quick outs in the seventh. However, the final error of the day allowed the Raiders to score two more runs before the freshman righty shut the door with a strikeout to end the game.

In the second game, Northwestern jumped on Kerry Zeese for three runs in the first inning and the Lakers were only able to respond due to Gutierrez's base running. The senior shortstop was hit by a pitch then promptly stole second and third before scoring on a passed ball. After Zeese settled down in the second, Luca Paolucci, who replaced Hayman in center field, launched a three-run homer in the bottom half of the inning to give the Lakers a 4-3 lead.

Gutierrez would add an RBI single in the second also, and Gliwa tacked on a sacrifice fly in the third inning. Munoz delivered a two-run single in the fourth inning as well, and it was all the support Zeese would need. The senior allowed three runs on four hits in the first inning then scattered one run on four hits over the next five frames to earn his third win of the season. Connor Collins struck out two in the seventh inning to close out the game for the Lakers.

The Lakers have earned a rest day Wednesday on their spring break trip before returning to action Thursday at 5 p.m. against Kansas Christian.