JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Lincoln softball team tallied 12 hits, including three each from Megan Heimbaugh and Tori Nienhueser, to defeat Emporia State, 13-12, on Saturday (March 5). The win, which was the first for the Blue Tigers in MIAA play in 2016, came in the night cap of a double-header, with ESU taking the first game, 10-0.

After falling into an early 3-0 deficit in the second contest, Westhoff started Lincoln's offense by being issued a walk. Two more walks were issued to Jessica Wolken and Kiley Kerr, loading the bases for Hope McLeod, who drove in Westhoff with a base hit. That brought up Heimbaugh, who gave the Blue Tigers a 4-3 lead with a bases-clearing double.

Both teams went three-up, three-down in the third, but Emporia State took advantage of seven hits to plate five runs in the fourth, swinging an 8-4 lead back to the Lady Hornets. The advantage didn't hold for long though, as Heimbaugh recorded her fourth RBI of the day on a single that plated Wolken in the bottom of the frame. A two-RBI double by Nienheuser brought in Heimbaugh and Kerr, and Lauren Stamp later hit a double to bring home Nienhueser, knotting the score at eight all.

Momentum swung back the Lady Hornets' way in the sixth inning, starting with a tie-breaking RBI double. Emporia State later scored on a pair of RBI singles to go up 11-8 by the end of the frame.

Lincoln's bats came alive again in the bottom of the sixth, however, as another double by Heimbaugh and singles from Hope McLeod and Nienhueser loaded the bases. Stamp then reached on balls, keeping the bags full and cutting the ESU lead down to 11-9. Spencer Silva then scored Heimbaugh on a sacrifice fly, and single from Westhoff loaded the bases again with LU now trailing by just one run.

Avery Myers tied the game on a sacrifice fly that brought in Nienhueser, and Wolken gave Lincoln a 13-11 advantage with a base hit that scored both Westhoff and Stamp. Emporia State used three-straight singles in the top of the seventh to fill the bases, and cut the LU lead to one on a sacrifice play, but Lincoln turned a double play to end the game with a 13-12 victory.

Madison Ragar pitched the complete game and notched three strikeouts while earning her first win of the season. Myers and Wolken had four putouts apiece while Stamp recorded six to lead the defense. Silva had a team-high four assists while Ragar and Nienhueser each had two.

The first game of the day was a 2-0 affair through two innings, but Emporia State ended up closing out the game in five frames with four runs in both the third and fourth innings. Lincoln was held to four hits, one each by Kerr, Wolken, Silva and Nienhueser.

Macie Kinsey led Lincoln's defense with seven putouts in the opener. Nienhueser and Myers each recorded three and Silva finished with two and a pair of assists. Nienhueser finished with a team-best three assists while Myers also made two and Stamp had one. Ragar closed the game and struck out three batters.

The Blue Tigers will be back at Duensing Field on Tuesday (March 8) to host Maryville for a 2:00 p.m. CST non-conference twinbill.