JOPLIN, Mo. - Avery Myers hit a two-run double in the top of the 10th inning, and the Lincoln softball team held on to beat Missouri Southern, 5-4, on Saturday (April 2). The win came in the second game of a double-header, with the Lions taking the first contest, 5-0.

The Lions led 3-0 through four innings, but Lincoln stormed back to tie the game in the top of the fifth. A fielding error allowed Hope McLeod to get on base and Tori Nienhueser was issued a walk before Sarah Westhoff loaded the bases with a single into centerfield. A base hit by Lauren Stamp down the left field line brought in McLeod and Nienhueser, and a third-straight single, this one by Jessica Wolken, scored Westhoff to tie the game.

Lincoln (4-33, 3-15 MIAA) and Missouri Southern (19-24, 7-9 MIAA) proceeded to play four innings of shutout softball until the Blue Tigers finally broke the tie in the top of the 10th. The game went into international rules, meaning Westhoff began the frame on second base. A single from Stamp moved her to third, and Myer's double down the left field line brought in both players to break the tie and put LU up, 5-3.

In the bottom of the 10th, MSSU tried to mount a comeback, using a two-out single to score the initial base runner. Westhoff, who pitched the final eight innings of the contest, forced a ground out to end the inning and secure LU's one-run win. Westhoff struck out four Lion batters and allowed just the one run, which was unearned.

Westhoff, Stamp, Wolken and McLeod each had two hits while Myers, Nienhueser, Megan Heimbaugh and Kiler Kerr finished with one apiece. Stamp finished with a team-high nine putouts, Heimbaugh recorded five and Wolken provided four. Nienhueser led the Blue Tigers with five assists while Wolken and Spencer Silva each tallied three.

In the opener, Lincoln managed five hits, but was held without a run. Missouri Southern scored twice in the second inning, once in the third and two more times in the sixth. The Blue Tigers had at least one base runner in every frame but one, but stranded nine on base throughout the contest.

Nienhueser led LU with two hits in the opener while McLeod, Heimbaugh and Myers each had one. Madison Ragar struck out batters in the circle while McLeod led the Blue Tigers with five putouts. Ragar recorded four putouts and Silva finished with four assists.

The Blue Tigers will remain on the road on Sunday (April 3) to play Pittsburg State in Pittsburg, Kan. in a 1:00 p.m. CDT twinbill.