JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Lincoln softball team opened its brand new field on Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 21), but Truman State got the better of the Blue Tigers in both games of the double-header. The first game featured plenty of offense by both teams before Truman State earned an 11-5 victory. In the second game, the Blue Tigers were held to just one hit and fell by a 7-0 final. The second game was called with one out on the board in the top of the seventh inning due to darkness.

Truman State (5-5) struck first in the opener, scoring on a sacrifice fly, but Lincoln (0-8) answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame. The first came on a double steal, as Kiley Kerr headed for home while Mykenzie Livesay appeared to be caught in a run-down. The Bulldogs tried to switch over and make the play at the plate, but Kerr just beat the throw while Livesay safely arrived on third. Tori Nienhueser later brought in Livesay on a single through the middle.

The Bulldogs retook the lead with four runs in the second, and the 5-2 score held until top of the fifth, when TSU plated five more runs on five hits and an LU error. Delayne Patton opened the bottom half of the frame with a single through the left side, and a fielder's choice later advanced her to second. Lauren Morrow loaded the bases with a hit, and Patton later scored on a single from Macie Kinsey.

Truman State added an additional run in the top of the sixth, but a pair of walks sandwiching a Maci Marshall single allowed LU to load the bases early in the bottom of that inning. Kiley Kerr then laid down a bunt, and the Bulldogs were unable to get an out as Chelsey Kerr scored on the play. Livesay then laid down a single through the left side, plating Marshall in the process to produce the 11-5 final score.

All nine Blue Tigers who started Tuesday's opener had at least one hit, with Kiley Kerr and Livesay tallying two. Jordan Lawson and Chelsey Kerr also had hits for LU. Sarah Westhoff and Madison Ragar split time in the circle, and Nienhueser turned a team-high three assists. Lawson led the defense with five putouts while Nienhueser and Kinsey each recorded four.

Lincoln had a season-high 11 hits in the opener, but managed just one hit in the nightcap as Truman State swept the double-header. For most of the contest the score was tight, with a pair of scores by the Bulldogs in the second frame the only difference in the ballgame. Westhoff tallied that hit in the bottom of the fourth, and advanced to second on a wild pitch, but ended up stranded on base. Livesay reached second in the first inning, but those ended up being Lincoln's best scoring opportunities of the evening contest.

Kinsey began the game in the circle and notched a strikeout before ceding to Ragar. Westhoff was responsible for nine putouts while Livesay was next with three. Nienhueser led LU with five assists, and Morrow was next with two.

The Blue Tigers will be back at LU Softball Field on Saturday (Feb. 25) as Lincoln hosts Maryville in a 2:00 p.m. CST double-header.