LEBANON, Ill. – Roosevelt split a four-game series with McKendree after coming out with a 16-14 win in a non-conference slugfest on Sunday in southern Illinois.
The Lakers (9-18) managed only 10 hits in the game, but drew 11 walks and were hit three times with pitches to manufacture a season-high 16 runs. Tyler Ruete drove in five while going 1 for 5 at the plate, and Kyle Jannenga went 3 for 3 with two runs scored and two RBI to lead the offensive output. Three other Lakers also had multiple RBI as Ian Bagaconza, Alejandro Munoz and Cooper Ohlson all drove in two runs.
The scoring started almost immediately after CJ Chalk reached on a McKendree error to lead off the game then promptly stole second and third base. Munoz drove in his first run with a sacrifice fly, but the Bearcats responded with two runs in the bottom of the first. After Ohlson walked with two away in the second, Jannenga launched a two-run blast to left field to give Roosevelt the lead again, only for McKendree to strike for five in the bottom of the frame.
Roosevelt pulled one run back in the third when Munoz hit an RBI single that scored Maxwell Bowers, who was hit by a pitch. A scoreless bottom of the third then set the scene for a six-run fourth inning that featured just two hits from the Lakers.
Jannenga and Quinn O'Bryan both walked then stole bases to set up Chalk, who sent a double to right field to plate Jannenga. Bowers found a hole on the right side of the infield for an RBI single that scored O'Bryan then Munoz walked to load the bases. Ruete and Bagaconza both drew walks as well to force across two more runs then Andrew Lucas beat out a double-play ball that allowed Munoz to come around to score. Ruete closed the scoring for the inning by coming home on a wild pitch.
The bats stayed hot in the fifth inning as Ruete made his one hit count with a grand slam after Chalk and Munoz sandwiched a Bowers single with walks. Lucas produced a triple then scored on Ohlson's sacrifice fly to make it 15-7 in Roosevelt's favor. Bagaconza then closed Roosevelt's scoring in the seventh with a solo shot to lead off the inning.
McKendree scored at least one run in each of the final four innings, culminating in a three-run blast with two away in the ninth. However, Jace Dominic was able to fan the final batter of the game to help Roosevelt head back into conference play with confidence after winning the final two games of the weekend series.
UP NEXT: Due to the Easter holiday, the Lakers' series with Purdue Northwest is shifted up a day, so Roosevelt will travel to Hammond, Ind. on Thursday for the first game of the series before a Friday doubleheader and a Saturday close to the set.
