CHICAGO – Roosevelt put together a seventh-inning rally to shock No. 20 Davenport and split their Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday at Saint Xavier.
The Lakers (15-33, 5-18) entered the bottom of the seventh down 3-0, but scored four runs on four hits, only one of which went for extra bases, to take the lead. They then added an insurance marker in the eighth frame for a 5-3 win over the Panthers, Roosevelt's first win over a ranked opponent since 2022 when the Lakers beat No. 8 Keiser during their annual spring break trip. Davenport controlled the first game of the day with an 8-3 win that limited the Lakers to just six hits in the contest all in the final three innings of play.
ROOSEVELT 5, DAVENPORT 3
Kyle Jannenga started the seventh inning with a triple into deep centerfield as the wind took the ball over the head of Davenport's outfielders. Jack Hoh grounded out to shortstop, but Jannenga came home to put the Lakers on the board. Quinn O'Bryan punched a single into right field then Harrison Kowalski beat out his hard grounder to third base to put two runners on. After a James Berry walk to load the bases, Kekoa Ogawa denied the Panthers a double play on a ground ball to make it 3-2.
Davenport switched pitchers following Ogawa's fielder's choice and Luke Ulbert battled to new pitcher before depositing the game-tying single onto the outfield grass. Ogawa went from first to third on the single, which became important when the Panthers uncorked a wild pitch as Ogawa slid past the tag for the fourth run of the inning.
Jannenga came back around to start the action in the eighth inning as well by working a quick walk. He stole second base relatively easily, putting himself in position to score on Hoh's single into right field. The Lakers catcher was 2 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored in the game after scoring a run and driving in another one in the first game of the doubleheader.
Roosevelt grew stronger as the nine-inning contest wore on and held the Panthers scoreless over the final seven innings. Davenport scored an unearned run in the first inning off Omar Abuelhija then scored twice on the Lakers senior in the second inning. Four of the 10 hits Abuelhija allowed came in those opening two frames as he danced out of trouble on some occasions.
Abuelhija limited the damage in the first inning by stranding the bases loaded with a long fly to centerfield. He stranded runners on the corners in the second and sixth innings, and left a runner on third in the third frame as well. He allowed 10 hits but just three runs in six innings of work before the bullpen took over for the Lakers.
William Zalabak pitched a perfect seventh inning to pick up his first win of the season then AJ Gliwa held down the fort in the eighth by stranding a one-out double at third base. Griffin Lamarche did his job against the dangerous Davenport left-handed batters to open the ninth inning before Kevin Schoer picked up the final out to earn his fifth save.
DAVENPORT 8, ROOSEVELT 3
It was a tough start to the game for the Lakers as the Panthers jumped on Keagan Bobbitt for three runs in the second inning. Meanwhile, Roosevelt was held without a base runner for the first four innings as the Panthers built a 5-0 lead. Davenport's perfect game was broken up in a big way by Jannenga, who turned on a two-out pitch for a solo home run to left field.
Davenport added three more runs in the sixth inning, but Roosevelt's offense began to find its confidence against the Panthers. Kowalski started the bottom of the sixth with a single that clipped off the foul line in left field. He moved up to second on a groundout before Ogawa striped a single that allowed Kowalski to score.
After a perfect seventh inning from Willie Hall on the mound, the Lakers offense again threatened in the bottom of the final inning. Sebastian Casillas found a hole on the left side of the infield to lead off the inning before being erased by a double play. Hoh put a run on the board for a third consecutive inning with a home run just in front of the scoreboard in right centerfield, but that was the last of the offense for the Lakers.
Hoh finished the game 2 for 3 at the dish, adding to his homer with a single after Jannenga's fifth-inning home run.
UP NEXT: Roosevelt's postseason fate comes down to the final day with an 11 a.m. contest against Davenport at Saint Xavier. The Lakers need a win or a Purdue Northwest loss at Saginaw Valley State in order to earn a date against the Panthers in Lansing, Michigan in the first round of the GLIAC Tournament.
