CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – For seven innings, Roosevelt had Illinois on the ropes before the Fighting Illini rallied for an 11-7 win Tuesday in Champaign in a last-minute contest between the two in-state foes.
Illinois was scheduled to play on the road Tuesday while Roosevelt (10-34) had no game scheduled, however, a last-minute schedule shift left the Fighting Illini in need of an opponent. The Lakers wound up making the trip south and played with a renewed energy against their Big Ten opponent.
Tyler Ruete launched a two-out homer to left field in the first inning to give Roosevelt an early lead. Kaden Foran shut down Illinois in the first inning and nearly escaped the second with the game tied at 1, but a throwing error allowed Illinois to push across a second run. The Fighting Illini tacked on a third run in the fourth inning, but Foran surrendered just two hits and the three runs in his four innings on the mound.
The Lakers tied the game in the fifth inning after some opportunistic base running to put Roosevelt in scoring position. Jack Hoh singled to lead off the frame then Kyle Jannenga was hit by a pitch to put a pair of runners on base. A wild pitch allowed both to move into scoring position, so that after Andrew Lucas loaded the bases by drawing a walk, Quinn O'Bryan delivered the two-run single that tied the game.
Roosevelt put a big scare into Illinois in the sixth inning with a bit of luck and patience at the plate. Alejandro Munoz began the rally with a single then CJ Chalk worked a walk after falling behind 0-2. Hoh attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but it was misplayed by the Illinois defense and the bases were loaded with no outs instead.
Cooper Ohlson was hit by a pitch to bring home a run and give Roosevelt a 4-3 lead, but the runs did not stop there. Jannenga earned a walk as well then Lucas singled to drive in yet another run. O'Bryan then wore a pitch to bring a fourth run home to give the Lakers a 7-3 edge.
Liam Neely worked a perfect fifth after the Lakers tied the game then navigated around an error in the sixth inning to protect the lead. Unfortunately, the game got away from the Lakers in the seventh inning as a pair of errors helped prolong the frame and Illinois was able to score eight runs to pull away.
Munoz finished the day 2 for 5 and Jannenga was 2 for 2 with a walk to lead the Lakers offense. Roosevelt held an 8-5 edge in hits in the game, but the Lakers also committed five errors behind their pitching staff, leading to four unearned runs crossing the plate.
UP NEXT: The Lakers will host Saginaw Valley State at Ozinga Field on Friday for a doubleheader beginning at 4:30 p.m. The two teams will then play at Saint Xavier on Saturday with the doubleheader beginning at noon.
