CHICAGO – The Roosevelt bats came alive in the second half of a doubleheader to earn a split with St. Xavier and end a four-game losing streak Saturday in Chicago.

After dropping the first game, 5-3, the Lakers (18-12, 7-7 CCAC) scored five runs in the first inning and two more in the second en route to a 12-5 victory. The Lakers bashed a season-high 20 hits in the second game with seven of the nine starters finishing with multiple hits. Meanwhile, four different Roosevelt hitters drove in at least two runs, including Daniel Gutierrez, who was a perfect 4 for 4 with four runs scored and two RBIs in the win.

Gutierrez reached base in the top of the first on a fielder's choice with St. Xavier electing to throw out the lead runner on the sacrifice bunt attempt. He advanced on a balk then scooted to third on Sherman Martin's single before Diego Munoz drew a walk to load the bases. Hunter Darst scored Gutierrez with a sacrifice fly before Sean Blanchard and Jaylen Heard went back-to-back off the Cougars pitcher to put the Lakers up 5-0.

Even though the Cougars scored four in the bottom of the first, the Lakers went back to work against a new pitcher. Jojo Mack was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame then stole second to put him in position for Bryce Hayman's RBI double to right field. Two batters later, Martin grounded into a double play, but Hayman was able to score and extend the lead even more.

St. Xavier tacked on one more run against Jake Meyer in the bottom of the second before Bryan Green took over and shut down the Cougars. Green tossed 7 1/3 of scoreless ball while allowing just three hits and walking one to earn his fifth win of the season. He retired the first nine batters he faced before allowing a single in the fifth and just two batters ended up reaching second base under his watch. Although he ended with no strikeouts, Green was efficient in limiting St. Xavier from climbing back into the game.

While Green was dominating on the mound, the Lakers continued to put pressure on the Cougars pitching and defense. Darst hit an RBI single in the fifth to extend Roosevelt's lead to 8-5 after the Lakers began the inning with back-to-back hits. In the sixth, Jack Toenjes hit a single up the middle followed by Mack doubling into the gap in left center. Toenjes was thrown out trying to score on the play, but Hayman followed with a double to score Mack then Gutierrez launched a homer to left field to complete the three-run inning. Gutierrez scored the game's final run in the ninth when he scored while Martin was thrown out trying to steal second.

The offensive explosion was a stark contrast to the first game when Roosevelt struggled to string together its hits in a meaningful way. The Lakers left runners on third in three of the first five innings, spoiling the fact they out-hit St. Xavier 8-7 in the game. It also didn't help that the Lakers committed three errors behind Noah Mathias, the first two of which led to the Cougars' first two runs.

After St. Xavier took a 2-0 lead in the second, Roosevelt responded with a run in the top of the third. Martin's single and stolen base set the scene for Munoz's drive down the third-base line that allowed Martin to score. The Cougars scored one in the bottom of the third, but the Lakers came back with a Mack RBI single in the fourth and a run-scoring single from Darst to tie the game.

However, a leadoff walk in the bottom of the sixth eventually cost the Lakers as the Cougars scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead heading into the last inning. Roosevelt went down in order in the seventh, sending the Lakers below .500 in conference play for the next few hours.

The Lakers travel to Elgin on Tuesday for a doubleheader against Judson starting at 3 p.m. as they try to get back over .500 in CCAC play.