ROSEMONT – Roosevelt's speed caused issues for Purdue Northwest as the Lakers swept the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader from the Pride on
Saturday at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont.

In both games, the Lakers (8-14, 2-2 GLIAC) scored the winning runs in the bottom of the sixth inning with their team speed playing a large role in the results. Roosevelt's base running put it in a position to score the winning run in the 4-2 win to start the day. The Lakers then legged out several infield hits to set the stage for a 5-1 win in the second game.

ROOSEVELT 4, PURDUE NORTHWEST 2
The Lakers bounced back from a frustrating top of the sixth inning to score two runs in the bottom of the frame to win the game.

Riley Czarnecki seemed to be cruising toward a third save with a runner on third and two outs in the sixth inning. The freshman's pitch was smashed into the ground, seemingly off the batter's foot or in foul territory before rolling in front of the plate. The umpire ruled it a hit and the Lakers still nearly got the force play at first that would have negated the tying run.

But undeterred, Libby Kreykes cracked a double down the left-field line that deflected off the third baseman's glove. Ava Kaspar laid down the sacrifice bunt to move Kreykes to third base then the fun began for the Lakers offense.

Caitlin Williams drew a two-out walk and took a wide turn around first base then cruised into second before anyone on Purdue Northwest knew what was happening. A wild pitch scored Kreykes and moved Williams to third, setting the scene for Ella Dvoracek. The sophomore also drew a walk and again made a wide turn around first base. This time, the Pride were quick to catch on and tried to end the inning by picking off Dvoracek. Instead, the outfielder avoided being tagged long enough for Williams to scoot home with an insurance run.

Czarnecki worked around a one-out single to win her seventh game of the season, allowing three hits in three innings of relief. Kailey Hancock got the start and allowed five hits in her four innings in the circle. The only run Hancock allowed was unearned courtesy of a dropped fly ball, but she was otherwise efficient.

Roosevelt recovered from the unearned run in the first inning by scoring twice in the fourth to take the lead. Brynn Dvoracek and Bianca Gallegos both walked, and Kreykes delivered a double into the gap in left centerfield to tie the game and move Gallegos to third. Kaspar walked then Hancock drew a bases-loaded walk before the Pride escaped the inning.

Kreykes ended up with Roosevelt's only three hits in the game, adding a second-inning single to her two doubles. However, the Lakers drew 10 walks from the Pride's pitching to keep the offense going without much success finding open grass.

ROOSEVELT 5, PURDUE NORTHWEST 1
It was only a matter of time before Roosevelt tied the second game against Purdue Northwest, but the extra offense in the sixth was just a bonus. The Lakers had left nine runners on base in the first five innings before exploding for five runs in the sixth to claim the sweep.

The Pride took the lead on a sacrifice fly in the third inning, but it was otherwise a smooth day for Catie Luzzi in the circle. The freshman escaped the bases loaded in the first inning with the 1-2-3 double play on a comebacker to her. Yet she was still on the hook for an unlucky loss when Czarnecki again entered in relief in the fifth inning.

It took Czarnecki just one pitch to escape the fifth then she worked around a leadoff single in the sixth inning to set the stage for her offense. Kaspar began the inning with a single before giving way to Sydni Taylor as a pinch runner. Williams walked then Dvoracek hit a sharp groundball to the shortstop that turned the game on its head.

The shortstop tried to get the lead runner at third base, but her toss to the third baseman was wild, allowing Taylor to tie the game. Rebecca Urbaniak dropped a beautiful bunt that landed between the circle and home plate to load the bases for Brynn Dvoracek. The senior delivered with a crushing single into centerfield that plated two runs. Gallegos then found the gap in left center field for a triple to add two more runs.

Urbaniak had two hits to lead the Lakers' offense in the second game as Roosevelt finished with seven hits and seven walks as a team.  

UP NEXT: The Lakers return to the field Wednesday with a doubleheader at Parkside for the team's first true road games of the season.