JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Lincoln softball team found ways to get on base, but stranded 13 base runners as the Blue Tigers dropped both games of a twinbill to Central Missouri on Friday (April 22). Lincoln fell in the first game, 9-1, and dropped the second, 9-0, both in six innings.

The Blue Tigers' lone run of the afternoon came courtesy of Tori Nienhueser, who led the third inning of the first contest off with a solo homerun. That made it a 2-1 game after the Jennies brought in runs in the first two frames on a sacrifice fly and a passed ball. Central Missouri responded with four runs in the fourth inning, however, and added three more in the sixth.

Lincoln (5-48, 4-20 MIAA) had its chances in the opener, including in the top of the first inning, when the Blue Tigers had the bases loaded. Megan Heimbaugh got on base via a fielding error, Macie Kinsey recorded LU's first hit of the day and a walk issued to Lauren Stamp filled up the bags with two outs. Central Missouri (27-23, 13-11) used a ground out, however, to strand all three players.

Sarah Westhoff struck out three batters in the circle and Hope McLeod and Jessica Wolken also had hits. Heimbaugh and Stamp both finished with four putouts and Wolken tallied three assists.

In the night cap, UCM scored twice in both the first and third frames, but didn't really take control of the game until the sixth inning, when the Jennies forced the contest into an early conclusion with five runs on six hits. The Blue Tigers stranded six runners on base, but were unable to advance anyone to third, as Central Missouri held LU to four hits.

Four different Blue Tigers - McLeod, Nienhueser, Kerr and Avery Myers - accounted for those hits. Madison Ragar started in the circle and notched a pair of strikeouts while Lauren Stamp closed out the game and fanned the final batter she faced. Kinsey led LU's fielders with five putouts, and McLeod and Heimbaugh each finished with three. Nienhueser and Ragar both provided a pair of assists.

Lincoln will close out its 2016 campaign on Saturday (April 23) when the Blue Tigers host MIAA rival Southwest Baptist for a 1:00 p.m. CDT double-header. Saturday is Senior Day, with a special ceremony planned prior to the contest to honor Spencer Silva, Lauren Stamp and Jessica Wolken.