ROSEMONT – Roosevelt overcame a two-run deficit in the seventh inning, but the Lakers were still swept by Saginaw Valley State in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex.

The first game of the day was rough for the Lakers (9-19, 3-7 GLIAC), who managed just two hits in an 8-0 run-rule loss. However, Roosevelt scored twice in the seventh inning of the second half of the twinbill before losing 5-3 in extra innings to the Cardinals.

SAGINAW VALLEY STATE 8, ROOSEVELT 0
The Cardinals hit consecutive extra-base hits in the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead, then added a run in the second by stealing home. Both of Roosevelt's hits came in the second inning as Rebecca Urbaniak singled to lead off the frame then moved to third on Ava Kaspar's single. However, Urbaniak was thrown out at home on a grounder to second base.

Saginaw Valley State broke open the game with four runs in the third inning then sealed the game with two more runs in the sixth. Libby Kreykes was hit by a pitch in the third inning, Caitlin Williams drew a walk in the fifth and Ella Dvoracek replaced Williams at first on a fielder's choice, as the only other Lakers base runners of the game.

SAGINAW VALLEY STATE 5, ROOSEVELT 3 (8 INNINGS)
Kailey Hancock got the start in both games of the doubleheader, but managed to navigate the Cardinals lineup much better during the second go-around. She worked around a two-out walk in the first then stranded a pair of runners in the second with a strikeout and groundout.

The pitching paid off as Roosevelt struck first with a Bianca Gallegos single into right field that scored Kreykes. Kreykes reached base on a single to second base, but then was able to take an extra base on a poor throw from the second baseman. Gallegos then came through with the run-scoring single to give Hancock a lead.

Hancock was on cruise control in the third and fourth before four straight Saginaw Valley State hits in the fifth gave the Cardinals a 2-1 lead. Saginaw Valley State added another run in the sixth inning before being retired in order in the seventh.

Needing two runs to try and salvage a split, Roosevelt was hungry at the plate in the bottom of the seventh. Brynn Dvoracek began with a double into the gap in right centerfield then Kreykes drove home Dvoracek with a sharp single. Kendall Pearson reached on a bunt single, setting up Kreykes to tie the game when she scored on an error while fielding Gallegos' sacrifice bunt attempt.

After the Cardinals scored twice in the top of the eighth, Athena Pomele-Pen started the bottom of the inning with a bang. The senior hit a grounder to shortstop, who bobbled the ball before firing wide of first base, allowing Pomele-Pen to take second. However, she was stranded there despite a Kreykes walk to put the tying run on base.

UP NEXT: The Lakers hit the road next weekend with trips to Ferris State and Davenport for doubleheaders next Saturday and Sunday, respectively.