KENOSHA, Wis. – An early offensive surge was not enough for Roosevelt as it dropped its final two games of the season Saturday against Parkside in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action in Wisconsin.
The Lakers nearly finished the season on a winning note after taking a 5-0 lead after two innings of the second game of the doubleheader. But the Rangers scored six unanswered runs to stun Roosevelt and claim both ends of the twinbill. In the first game, Roosevelt (10-38, 4-24 GLIAC) fell 6-0 despite putting itself in positions to score in multiple innings.
PARKSIDE 6, ROOSEVELT 0
The Lakers' threats began immediately with Ella Dvoracek working a seven-pitch walk after falling behind 0-2 in the count. She took off for second and stole the bag then took third as well to put herself in scoring position. Roosevelt put two more runners on base in the fourth, but could not convert.
Catie Luzzi did not make it easier on herself in the circle, but managed to navigate around trouble. She loaded the bases in the first inning but managed to induce a pop fly to end the threat. In the second, she walked the first two hitters and again kept the Rangers at bay with timely outs.
Roosevelt's issues came in the fourth when Parkside scored three runs, the third of which was unearned on a throwing error. However, the Lakers had two base runners in the fifth inning and a golden chance to score in the sixth. Kendall Pearson and Sophia Barofsky both walked to start the sixth then Pearson stole third base. Three straight strikeouts ended the frame, however, with Pearson stuck 60 feet away.
Parkside doubled the lead with three more runs in the bottom of the sixth then Dvoracek reached on a single in the seventh. She again stole two bases to reach third, tying graduate assistant Scout Kram for the most in a single game with four. The four thefts gave her 20 stolen bases on the season, setting the record for most stolen bases in a single season.
PARKSIDE 6, ROOSEVELT 5
After being shut out in the opener, the Lakers made sure they were not going to be blanked again. Dvoracek opened the second game with a single then Rebecca Urbaniak walked to put the first two runners on base. Dvoracek tagged up on a fly ball to reach third and Libby Kreykes was hit by a two-out pitch to load the bases.
That is when Marissa Quintero picked an excellent time for her second career hit and first career extra-base hit. The freshman turned on a 2-2 pitch and crushed it well over the fence in left center field for a grand slam.
The Lakers added to the lead in the second when Sydni Taylor turned a leadoff walk into a run with patient base running. The senior advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt then took third on an infield single before finally scoring on a fielder's choice from Barofsky.
Riley Czarnecki looked strong in the first three innings, limiting Parkside's offense after allowing a leadoff double. She ran into some trouble in the fourth, but managed to maintain the lead after a bases-clearing double cut the lead to 5-3. The sophomore nearly escaped the sixth with the lead as well, but the Rangers scored three two-out runs in the frame to take the lead.
Urbaniak was 2 for 3 with a double in the second game, moving Taylor to third base in the top of the fourth with her extra-base hit.
