ROSEMONT – Roosevelt's first trip to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament was too brief as the Lakers dropped both games Thursday at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex.

The first game of the day for the sixth-seeded Lakers (17-31) started off poorly and Roosevelt could not recover in an 8-1 loss to No. 3 Ferris State. It was a back-and-forth affair in the second game, but fifth-seeded Wayne State was able to score in the bottom of the eighth for a walk-off 4-3 win over the Lakers.

FERRIS STATE 8, ROOSEVELT 1
A pair of errors in the first two innings helped Ferris State score six unearned runs to put Roosevelt in an early deficit. Riley Czarnecki nearly escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the first, but a two-out pop fly got caught in the wind and glanced off a glove to clear the bases.

In the second inning, a fielding error on a sacrifice bunt attempt loaded the bases for the Bulldogs. The only earned run of the first two innings came across to score before a single scored an unearned run. Ferris State added a run on a bases-loaded two-out walk and then the Bulldogs subsequently stole home before the Lakers ended the inning by catching a runner trying to take third.

Rebecca Urbaniak came on to relieve Riley Czarnecki after Czarnecki allowed just three hits in two innings with six of the seven runs charged to her being unearned. Urbaniak allowed just three hits over the final four innings, surrendering just a single earned run while striking out one.

Roosevelt was limited to just four hits, but still put itself in a position to make a comeback in the fifth inning. Isis Enriquez started the rally by getting hit by a pitch then Caitlin Williams was plunked to put two runners on base. Ella Dvoracek laid down a gorgeous bunt to load the bases for Kendall Pearson, who ripped a single into left field to put Roosevelt on the board.

The rally was cut short by an excellent defensive play from Ferris State to rob Athena Pomele-Pen of a hit and turn the inning-ending double play. Dvoracek finished with two hits for the Lakers and her sister, Brynn, added the other hit for Roosevelt.

WAYNE STATE 4, ROOSEVELT 3 – 8 INNINGS
The Lakers' pitching staff finally ran out of magic against the Warriors despite stranding 10 runners on the base paths. Roosevelt found itself in trouble in the bottom of the eighth after Wayne State started the frame with back-to-back singles. A fielder's choice and a walk loaded the bases with one out, but Czarnecki was ready to battle.

She induced a soft fly ball to left field for the second out and it looked shallow enough to hold the runner at third. However, the throw home skipped away and the Warriors runner narrowly avoided Libby Kreykes' tag for the winning run.

It was a heartbreaking end for the Lakers after they clawed back with their final out to force extra innings. Kendall Pearson laced a triple down the left-field line to put a runner on third and poetically bring up two of Roosevelt's seniors. Pomele-Pen made sure her career wouldn't end just yet with the RBI single through the left side then Brynn Dvoracek continued the comeback with a single up the middle.

Roosevelt struck first in the game in the second inning when Kreykes drilled a double into the gap in left centerfield to plate Bianca Gallegos. Wayne State tied the game in the third, but Czarnecki came on to shut the door and keep the score 1-1.

The Lakers were back on the attack in the fifth inning with Ella Dvoracek hitting a single between a pair of walks to load the bases. Pomele-Pen hit into a fielder's choice to score a run before the rally ended with a pop up. Kreykes added a second double in the sixth inning, this time finding the right centerfield gap before being left on the base paths.

Czarnecki picked up two quick outs in the bottom of the sixth before three straight hits put the Warriors in the lead for the first time. The freshman then caught a rocket line drive back at her in the circle to end the threat. Czarnecki allowed seven hits and just three runs in 5.2 innings of relief in the game.