DEERFIELD, Ill. - Opening the week with their first of seven games the TIU Baseball team earned a much needed split with Roosevelt University, defeating the Lakers 10-7 before suffering a 6-5 defeat on Monday afternoon.

With the regular season wrapping up and the Trojans on the brink of their first CCAC Tournament appearance since 2011 the Trojans earned a hard fought win in the opening game of the series, taking a 10-7 victory over RU.

It was a back and forth opening game of the series, and Lakers struck first in the opening inning. After scoring a run in the 1st the Trojans bounced right back in the bottom half of the inning with a pair of runs after a sacrifice fly from Michael Balistreri and Joel Stephenson RBI single.

Leading by one heading into the 4th the Lakers tacked on a pair of runs, stringing together a trio of hits to take a 4-2 lead.

Despite trailing the Trojans never wavered as TIU exploded for seven runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning to take a lead they would not relinquish.

RBI's from Luis Henriquez, and Balistreri in the 4th helped propel the Trojans to an eventual 10-7 victory over RU.

Game two saw a solid performance from the Trojans throughout, but the late rally in the final two innings was not enough.

The Trojans found themselves in a 6-3 hole in the bottom of the 6th inning, but Stephenson and Michael Luker drove in runs to bring the Trojans right back. TIU had their opportunities in the 8th and 9th to tie the game but lockdown pitching from the Lakers kept the Trojans from earning the season sweep.

TIU will be back in action on Wednesday when they hit the road to take on the USF Saints at 1 PM.