JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Lincoln softball team tallied nine hits, including a homerun, but dropped both games of a double-header to Southwest Baptist on Saturday (April 23). In addition to being the final contests of 2016, the twinbill was part of Senior Day for Lincoln, with graduating players Spencer Silva, Lauren Stamp and Jessica Wolken honored in a pre-game ceremony.

Wolken had the biggest highlight of the day, hitting just her second career homerun in the bottom of the fourth inning of game two to get the Blue Tigers on the board. That score cut SBU's lead down to 4-1, as the Bearcats had previously scored an unearned run in the first inning, two more unearned runs in the third and on a wild pitch in the fourth.

Southwest Baptist (21-33, 12-14 MIAA) brought in two more scores in the top of the fifth, but Lincoln (5-50, 4-22 MIAA) cut its deficit down to 6-2 in the bottom of that frame. Kiley Kerr led the inning off with a walk, an SBU error allowed Megan Heimbaugh to reach and an attempt at a fielder's choice that resulted in a safe play for LU put Tori Nienhueser on first, loading the bases. Stamp then hit into a fielder's choice, but was able to score Kerr in the process.

The Bearcats eventually scored four runs in the top of the sixth to end game two of Saturday's double-header an inning early. Kerr and Heimbaugh also had hits for Lincoln while Madison Ragar started in the circle and racked up seven strikeouts. Heimbaugh led LU with eight putouts and Stamp recorded four while Silva and Nienhueser each had two apiece. Ragar also turned a pair of assists.

In the first game, the two teams combined for 10 hits through the first two frames, but it was all SBU after that. The Bearcats scored two runs in each of the first, second, third and fourth frames before ending the game two innings early with a three-run fifth frame.

In the bottom of the first, Lincoln cut its deficit in half before there was even one out on the board. Hope McLeod led the inning off with a hit and advanced to second on an error. A passed ball moved McLeod to third, and Heimbaugh drove her in with a double down the left field line, pulling the Blue Tigers to within 2-1 of the Bearcats.

A base hit by Nienhueser followed by a walk issued to Stamp loaded the bases, giving Lincoln an opportunity to tie the game later in the first. A double play that resulted in Heimbaugh being out at the plate, followed by a strikeout, kept SBU's lead at one.

The Blue Tigers had the opportunity to extend the game to at least a sixth inning, as Lincoln brought in two more scores in the bottom of the fifth to close the gap down to eight. Following a ground out, Kerr got on board via a walk and McLeod followed with her second base hit of the afternoon. Heimbaugh then scored both players on a single into left field, pulling LU to within 11-3. A wild pitch advanced Heimbaugh to second, but she ended up stranded after SBU forced a strikeout and a line to end the game.

Stamp started in the circle and had a strikeout. Sarah Westhoff, who closed the game, also had a strikeout. Avery Myers also had a hit for Lincoln.

Defensively, Macie Kinsey led the Blue Tigers with six putouts. Myers added three, and Wolken and McLeod each provided two. Silva had a team-high four assists while Stamp recorded two.