SAINT LEO, Fla. – Liam Neely's strong performance on the mound powered Roosevelt to a 3-2 win over Saint Leo on Friday in the first game of a three-game set just outside Tampa, Fla.
The senior transfer was electric for the Lakers (3-9) through the first eight innings, striking out four and allowing just four hits. He faced the minimum in six of those first eight innings, carving up the Lions' batting order to protect a slim 1-0 lead.
That run came in the third inning when Roosevelt strung together three straight hits to start the frame and score the first run. Andrew Lucas began with a single through the left side of the infield then moved up on CJ Chalk's single to right. Maxwell Bowers snuck his single down the left field line to allow Lucas to motor home from second.
It stayed a 1-0 game until the ninth inning when the Lakers added some much-needed insurance markers. Alejandro Munoz was hit by a pitch then stole second to put an early runner in scoring position. Jack Hoh advanced the runner with a groundout and Ian Bagaconza delivered the RBI single into centerfield.
A balk advanced Bagaconza to second base and Adam Klaybor joined him on the base paths with a walk. Kyle Jannenga was hit by a pitch to load the bases before the Saint Leo pitcher uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Bagaconza to scurry home.
The Lions scored two runs off Neely in the ninth then an error put the tying run on base. Sam Skirvin took over and threw seven pitches to earn his first save of the season. After walking the first batter he faced, Skirvin induced a classic 6-4-3 double play to end the game.
It was a strong bounceback from the Roosevelt defense despite the two errors, helping keep the narrow lead for eight innings. In the second, Munoz was able to stop a double steal by throwing home in plenty of time to nab the runner trying to score for the final out of the inning. The Lakers executed a 5-4-3 double play to erase a fifth-inning single, then in the seventh Bowers rocketed a throw to the plate to end the inning by catching a runner trying to score.
UP NEXT: The Lakers and Lions will play a doubleheader Saturday starting at noon, which will be the final two games of Roosevelt's spring break trip to Florida.
