JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Lincoln softball team was held to four hits as the Blue Tigers dropped a double-header to Missouri Western on Saturday (March 26). Missouri Western won the first contest, 10-0, and the second, 8-0.

In the first game, Lincoln kept the Griffons to a two-run lead before MWSU broke the contest open with six scores in the top of the fourth. The Blue Tigers had multiple base-runners twice, including in the bottom of the fourth, when a sacrifice bunt by Spencer Silva moved both Sarah Westhoff and Jessica Wolken into scoring position. The Blue Tigers, however, were held without a run.

Hope McLeod had Lincoln's lone hit in the opener. Lauren Stamp tallied a team-high six putouts while Silva finished with four assists.

In the second game, Missouri Western (25-9, 10-2 MIAA) scored three runs in the opening frame and another in the second to take an early lead. The Griffons later added scores in the fifth and seventh frames as well as a pair of runs in the sixth.

Lincoln (3-32, 2-12 MIAA) had its best opportunity to score in the fourth inning, which Tori Nienhueser led off with a walk. Silva then notched a base hit, and Macie Kinsey was issued a walk, loading the bases for LU. A pop-out, however, ended the frame.

McLeod and Nienhueser also had hits in the second game. In the circle, starter Madison Ragar struck out two Griffon batters and Stamp fanned one. Kinsey and Megan Heimbaugh tied for the team-lead with five putouts apiece.

The Blue Tigers will have a week to prepare for their next test, as Lincoln heads to Joplin, Mo. to play Missouri Southern next Saturday (April 2). The teams will play two games, with the first scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. CDT.