LEBANON, Ill. – Roosevelt snapped a seven-game skid by splitting a non-conference doubleheader at McKendree on Saturday.
Liam Neely threw a complete-game in the second half of the doubleheader as the Lakers (8-18) defeated the Bearcats 7-3. In the day's first game, McKendree added a late run to escape with a 4-3 win over Roosevelt.
ROOSEVELT 7, McKENDREE 3
Cooper Ohlson hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning to jumpstart the Lakers offense in the victory. Roosevelt scattered singles in the first four innings, but never really threatened the Bearcats staff. That changed when Jack Hoh led off the fifth inning with a walk and Ohlson then sent the 2-2 offering out of the park.
Andrew Lucas followed Ohlson's home run with a single then stole second to put himself in position for CJ Chalk. The Lakers' leadoff hitter drove home Lucas with a single into left field then moved up to second on a wild pitch. Maxwell Bowers singled to put runners on the corners then Alejandro Munoz hit a sac fly to make it 4-2 Lakers.
Roosevelt stayed patient at the plate in the sixth inning to extend its lead with a two-out rally. After Ian Bagaconza led off the frame with a walk, the next two batters recorded outs while Bagaconza moved to third. Ohlson, Lucas and Chalk all walked to scratch across a run then Bowers was hit by a pitch to add another score. Ohlson then added an RBI single in the seventh to extend the Lakers lead again.
McKendree's first two batters hit doubles, but Neely settled in after that to limit the damage to two runs in the first inning. Neely struck out seven in his seven innings of work, allowing six hits and three runs to earn his team-leading third win of the season.
McKENDREE 4, ROOSEVELT 3
The Lakers allowed a run in the first inning, but Tyler Ruete hit a two-run home run in the second inning to give Roosevelt the lead. Bagaconza led off the second by reaching on an error before Ruete launched his third homer of the season. Roosevelt extended its advantage to 3-1 in the fifth when Christian Degroot scored Bowers with a groundout after Bowers smashed a leadoff double.
Anthony Sorrentino weaved in and out of trouble in his five innings on the mound while managing to keep the Lakers in the lead. The Bearcats hit a leadoff double in the second then a wild pitch put runners on second and third with one out. Yet Sorrentino induced a pair of fly balls to end the threat.
McKendree would end up tying the game in the fifth before Sorrentino shut down the threat. The Bearcats added the eventual winning run on a sacrifice fly in the sixth, but Roosevelt did have one last chance in the seventh. Chalk led off the inning with a walk then moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt. Munoz doubled to put runners on second and third with one out, but the Lakers could not manage to drive either home.
UP NEXT: Roosevelt goes for the weekend split Sunday against the Bearcats with first pitch scheduled for noon.
