Box Score CRESTWOOD, Ill. – Roosevelt's offense slowed down in the later innings to allow Indiana University South Bend to rally for a 7-4 win Friday night in a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference battle at Ozinga Field.
The Lakers (24-17, 13-11 CCAC) came out hot with three runs in the first inning to build a lead for senior Kerry Zeese. They kept the pressure on the Titans with three hits and a run in the third inning to tie the game after Indiana South Bend took the lead in the top of the frame. However, Roosevelt managed just two hits and struck out 11 times in the final six innings as the Titans took advantage of the Lakers bullpen.
Zeese breezed through the first inning courtesy of a pair of strikeouts and the arm of Hunter Darst The senior catcher threw out his 15th would-be base stealer for the second out of the inning, increasing his caught stealing percentage to 38.5 percent this season, fourth-best among those who have thrown out at least 10 base runners. As a team, the Lakers rank fifth nationally by catching one-third of all runners trying to steal a base.
In the bottom of the frame, Bryce Hayman began the inning by drawing a five-pitch walk then Daniel Gutierrez squeezed a single between the shortstop and third baseman. Diego Munoz drove in Hayman from second with a single into center field and both he and Gutierrez moved up a bag when the center fielder bobbled the ball while trying to come up firing for the plate. Sean Blanchard hit a fly ball far enough into right field that both runners advanced, adding a second RBI for a senior. Then Darst plated Munoz on a groundout to the shortstop, completing the senior theme on Senior Day.
The third inning brought trouble for Zeese as he allowed the first five hitters of the inning to reach base. Four of them ended up scoring to give the Titans their first lead of the game, but the senior righty did regain some momentum for the Lakers at the end of the inning. After allowing the triple that plated the fourth run, Zeese retired the next three batters to strand the runner at third.
Roosevelt backed up its pitcher in the bottom of the inning with Jack Toenjes leading off with a gorgeous bunt single down the third-base line. Munoz moved him over to second with a groundout down the first base line then Darst restarted the inning by getting hit by a pitch. Sherman Martin strode up with two outs and unleashed a single into left center to tie the game and Jaylen Heard followed with a single to load the bases. Ben Compton then was robbed of a two-run hit by quick reflexes by the Indiana South Bend third baseman who gloved a screaming line drive to end the inning.
Zeese weaved his way in and out of trouble for his final three innings on the mound, but did not allow the tiebreaking run. The closest he came was in the fifth inning when a single and two wild pitches put a runner on third base with one out. However, he fanned one batter then caught a second hitter looking at strike three for his sixth and seventh strikeouts of the game. He finished with seven strikeouts and just two walks while allowing six hits and four runs.
Indiana South Bend struck for two quick runs in the seventh inning after the Lakers left Jojo Mack stranded at second base after he smashed a double into the left field corner in the sixth. Roosevelt only escaped allowing more damage in the seventh when it won an appeal that the Titans runner left early on a fly ball to center field for the inning-ending double play. The Titans then tacked on another run in the ninth for the final scoreline.
Prior to the game, Roosevelt honored its 11-player senior class for the annual Senior Day ceremonies. All seven field players – Blanchard, Darst, Jesus Gomez, Gutierrez, Heard, Danny Holloway and Munoz – had at least one at-bat in their final game at Ozinga Field. Head coach Jason Becker was only able to get two of the four pitchers – Chris Miller and Zeese – into the action as Bryan Green and Noah Mathias were scheduled to start Saturday's games in South Bend, Indiana. However, rain cancelled both games, so the two seniors are now scheduled to appear later this week in the conference tournament.
The Lakers will be the No. 7 seed for the CCAC Tournament, which is scheduled to begin Thursday in Joliet at Duly Health and Care Field. Due to weather affecting several CCAC games Saturday, Roosevelt will wait to learn who it will play in the opening round.
