ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Roosevelt softball team opened the second day of the 2020 NAIA Leadoff Tournament on Friday with a pair of four-run frames en route to a run-rule rout of Michigan Dearborn before being edged narrowly on a late run by Goshen (Ind.) in splitting two games at The Dome at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex.

Riley Landenberger was the Lakers' offensive star on Friday, as the senior went 2-for-2 with two RBI triples and four RBI in the win and lated tacked on another hit in the Goshen game.

Roosevelt pitching also shined, as Kate Sisson tossed five innings of shutout softball for the win against UM Dearborn. Sisson also threw two scoreless innings in the nightcap before Lauren Watkins came on in relief and went four innings, allowing just one fifth-inning tally by the Leafs that proved to be the decisive run.

The Lakers jumped out to a quick and decisive lead in their first game by putting up eight runs during the first two innings, with Landenberger hitting a run-scoring triple in the first and a bases-loaded three-bagger in the second.

Ellie Lee, Aisley Njissang and Reyann Kruger also drove in first-inning runs, and Lee plated another on a sac fly in the second.

Sisson did the rest to get the Lakers' lead to the fifth for the decision.

The Lakers and the Leafs engaged in a struggle in which runs were very difficult to come by, and it wasn't until the fifth when Goshen was able to barely break through and score the contest's sole run on a two-out infield single.

Roosevelt stranded eight runners on base, including six runners in scoring position. Despite drawing five walks, the Lakers could not light the scoreboard against pitcher Emily Cummings, who fanned nine in going the distance.

All three of the Lakers' losses during the opening weekend of the season have been one-run affairs.

The Lakers cap the 2020 NAIA Leadoff Tournament in Rosemont on Saturday with two games. Roosevelt opens the day with a 10:45am battle against Madonna (Mich.) before capping the tournament at 5:30pm against Aquinas (Mich.).

Kate Sisson unleashes a pitch against Goshen on day two of the 2020 NAIA Leadoff Tournament.

(Photo: Danny Carlino)