ROSEMONT, Ill. – Roosevelt had plenty of chances but could not convert enough of them in a 3-1 loss to William Jewell on Saturday night at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex.
It was a frustrating evening for the Lakers (4-3) in the batter's box as they continually created threats against the Cardinals pitching. They had runners in scoring position in five of the seven innings, but managed just the single run and six hits in the contest.
William Jewell struck first in the top of the third inning, but Roosevelt responded immediately in its next turn at the plate. Ella Dvoracek smacked a single up the middle and stole second two pitches later to move herself into position to score on a hit. Rebecca Urbaniak tried to laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Dvoracek, but instead a throwing error by the pitcher allowed Dvoracek to score with ease.
A passed ball that squeezed through the catcher's legs stayed in the backstop for an extra two seconds to allow Urbaniak to move from first to third. Cassidy Sullivan then seemingly scored Urbaniak on a sacrifice fly, but Urbaniak was deemed to have left the base too early upon appeal to third.
The Cardinals scored again in the fourth to re-take the lead and the Lakers were again poised to respond. In the bottom of the fifth, Dvoracek again hit a sharp single up the middle and this time, Urbaniak followed with a single in a similar location. Urbaniak was able to advance to second on the throw to try and nab Dvoracek at third, but the Lakers stranded the pair on the bases with consecutive outs.
Libby Kreykes tried to start some seventh-inning magic with a pinch-hit single in Caitlin Williams' spot in the order. Dvoracek nearly beat out a throw on a bunt attempt that moved Williams up 60 feet, but that was the last of the chances for the Lakers.
In addition to Dvoracek's two hits, Kendall Pearson had a pair of hits for Roosevelt by beating out slow grounder to third base in the second and fourth innings.
UP NEXT: The Lakers close out their weekend at the Lewis Invitational with a 2:30 p.m. matchup against the Flyers in the dome.
