OAKLAND CITY, Ind. – A strong first inning in the second half of a doubleheader powered Roosevelt to its first win of the season as the Lakers split their two games against Oakland City on the road Wednesday.

After a big inning doomed Roosevelt on Tuesday against St. Francis, the big inning again haunted the Lakers (1-4) in the first game Wednesday. The Mighty Oaks struck for six runs in the sixth inning of the opener to claim the first game 9-0. However, the Lakers' offense put up six runs in the first inning of the second game to lift Roosevelt to a 10-4 win.

OAKLAND CITY 9, ROOSEVELT 0
Both pitchers were up to the task in the first two innings as neither team threatened much on offense. Gavin Millard gave the Lakers a boost in the top of the third by walloping a one-out double into the gap in right centerfield. However, the Lakers couldn't bring him home and give Omar Abuelhija much run support.

The senior righty gave up his first run in an unusual manner as Oakland City was able to steal home with two outs as Roosevelt caught the runner on first in a rundown. The Lakers were able to apply the tag for the third out, but not before the runner was able to score the first run of the game. Abuelhija finished the day with three strikeouts while allowing three runs on five hits in 4.1 innings on the mound.

Immediately after the Mighty Oaks took the lead, James Berry started the fourth inning with a double to right centerfield. Berry moved to third base on a groundout before being stranded on the base paths. Roosevelt put the leadoff runner on again in the fifth inning, this time advancing two runners into scoring position before the third out was recorded.

The Mighty Oaks tacked on six runs on five hits in the sixth inning before the Lakers had one last chance at a comeback. Roosevelt loaded the bases with no one out in the seventh inning before lining into a double play and striking out to end the threat.

ROOSEVELT 10, OAKLAND CITY 4
Roosevelt left no doubt about its intentions in the second game as it forced a first-inning pitching change in the victory. The Lakers scored six times on five hits and still left the bases loaded in the opening inning on the way to scoring in four of the first five innings.

Millard started the game by belting a home run to right field before Kekoa Ogawa singled up the middle. The Lakers third baseman stole second base then moved to third on a wild pitch before Sebastian Casillas brought him home with a single. Casillas then stole second to put himself in position to score on Jack Kieffer's double.

Christian Degroot was plunked and Andrew Lucas followed with a single to plate Kieffer and put runners on the corners. Lucas then took second base, setting up Harrison Kowlaski to be walked before Millard and Berry were both hit by a pitch to drive home runs.

Kieffer was hit by a pitch in the second inning then moved over to third on a single from Degroot before eventually scoring on an error by the pitcher on a failed pickoff attempt. In the third inning, Kowlaski came around to score after being hit by a pitch to lead off the inning while Berry scored on a wild pitch after reaching on a throwing error by the catcher on a dropped third strike. Roosevelt added its last run in the fifth when Ogawa smacked a single into centerfield to score Millard, who hit a double two batters earlier.

Kyle Maslan earned the win for Roosevelt by allowing just two runs on five hits in four innings of work. Sam Skirvin was tagged for a run in two innings on the mound, but did strike out four of the 10 batters he faced. Kevin Schroer pitched the seventh inning to close out the victory for the Lakers.

UP NEXT: The Lakers embark on their annual trip to Florida, which begins Sunday with a doubleheader against West Virginia Wesleyan.