ROSEMONT – Sophia Barofsky rocketed a single into the gap for her first career hit, lifting Roosevelt to a 2-1 win over Illinois Springfield in the second half of a season-opening doubleheader Friday afternoon at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex dome in Rosemont.
The freshman stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh, and left no doubt of the result on the first pitch she saw. The shortstop's drive might have been extra-bases had the game not ended, but it was plenty deep enough to score Ava Kaspar from third base for the winning run.
It was a sweet finish to the doubleheader for the Lakers (1-1) after dropping the opening game 3-0 to the Prairie Stars. Roosevelt allowed just four hits in the opener, but issued seven walks to allow UIS to pull away in the closing innings.
ROOSEVELT 2, UIS 1
Barofsky's hit was the clutch hit the Lakers were searching for throughout the second game as they continued to apply pressure on offense. In the first inning, Roosevelt loaded the bases with one out before a double play ended the threat. The following inning, the Lakers put the first two hitters on the base paths before making three consecutive outs.
Kendall Pearson delivered the first big hit of the season for Roosevelt in the fifth inning with an RBI single into right field. Ella Dvoracek scored on the play after leading off with a bunt single then stealing second. The junior then advanced 60 feet on Rebecca Urbaniak's single before trotting home on Pearson's connection.
In the seventh inning, Urbaniak got the party started by reaching on an error then advanced on a Kaspar walk. A fielder's choice kept runners at first and second, but a wild pitch allowed everyone to scoot up into scoring position. Cassidy Sullivan drew a walk to load the bases and one out later, Barofsky came up to secure the win.
UIS scored immediately to open the game, turning a leadoff walk into a run. Catie Luzzi responded by fanning the next hitter and inducing a groundout to escape the jam. It was the defense helping Luzzi in the second inning as Pearson fired a dart from centerfield into catcher Libby Kreykes for an inning-ending assist at home plate.
Riley Czarnecki entered the game to try and get Luzzi out of a jam in the fourth and succeeded when Kreykes hurried after a wild pitch and tossed it back to Czarnecki to catch the runner trying to score. Czarnecki stranded a runner at third in the fifth inning and left a runner in scoring position in the sixth before a lineout double play ended the seventh.
UIS 3, ROOSEVELT 0
The first game of the day was a pitcher's duel as Kailey Hancock matched one of the best hurlers in the Midwest for four innings. The junior didn't face much trouble in her time in the circle, using a weak popup to second base to strand runners on second and third in the third inning.
Meanwhile, the Lakers didn't threaten much either in the first four innings. Roosevelt's best offensive opportunity came in the fifth inning after the Prairie Stars scored an unearned run off Czarnecki in the top half of the inning. The Lakers were in a good spot after two one-out walks when Kreykes hit a line drive into center field.
There was some confusion as to whether the ball was caught, but the umpires ruled it hit the field, allowing the runners to advance freely. The play ended originally with the Lakers having runners on first and third after a force out at second base. After much deliberation, the umpires ruled that UIS also threw the ball in time to pick up the force out at third base, ending the inning.
UIS tagged on two more runs in the seventh inning for the final total as the Lakers managed just three hits in the game.
UP NEXT: The Lakers are off for three weeks before returning to the dome Feb. 19-22 for six games at a tournament hosted by Lewis.
