ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Roosevelt softball team battled until its last at-bat in both of the Lakers' season-opening games on Thursday as part of the 2020 NAIA Leadoff Tournament hosted by RU inside The Dome at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex.

The Lakers were edged by Concordia (Mich.) 6-5 in the day's lid-lifter before seeing their rally fall just short against the College of Saint Mary (Neb.), 5-4 in Thursday's finale.

Caitlyn Santiago had two hits in each game and drove in three runs on the day. Kassie Kawka had a pair of hits against Concordia.

Cam Wicker turned in two late-inning two-run hits that helped the Lakers stay in each game.

Hailey Getz tossed six innings in the opener, giving up just one earned run and fanning five in a stellar circle effort.

Unfortunately three Roosevelt errors aided the opposition, including an inning-opening dropped fly that eventually opened the door to four unearned runs during a go-ahead fourth against Getz.

Wicker's sixth-inning two-run single tied the game at 5-5, but Lauren Watkins' wild pitch in the top of the seventh allowed the eventual winning run to slide across the plate safely.

Roosevelt put the tying run on in the form of leadoff hitter Kawka thanks to a walk, but a double play and game-ending flyout concluded the Lakers' comeback attempt.

A four-run first by Saint Mary was the only frame that marred senior starter Brinn Arwood's day, as the senior pitcher put up zeroes during the rest of her outing.

The Lakers cut their deficit in half on Santiago's two-run double in the third, and after the Flames tacked on what turned out to be critical sixth-inning insurance, Roosevelt had one last gasp left in the seventh.

The first two batters reached, and eventually the Lakers loaded the bases with one out. After a strikeout, Roosevelt was down to its final out but Wicker made sure the game was prolonged with a clutch two-run single that put the tying run in scoring position and the go-ahead run at first.

But pitcher Abby Straight induced a game-ending groundout to first that ended Roosevelt's valiant rally.

The Lakers look to bounce back at the NAIA Leadoff Tournament on Friday with a pair of games, beginning at 7:45pm against Michigan Dearborn and ending at 10pm against Goshen.

Hailey Getz throws a pitch against a Concordia hitter during her strong outing as the Lakers' opening day starter.

(Photo: Danny Carlino)