ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - The Lincoln softball team built early leads in both games, but fell in a pair of contests at the Ronnie Hawkins Invitational on Friday afternoon (Feb. 3).

Northeastern State 9, Lincoln 1
The Blue Tigers officially opened the 2017 campaign with a non-conference game against MIAA rival Northeastern State. The contest started well for LU, as Lincoln tallied three hits in the first inning en route to taking a 1-0 lead. Kiley Kerr and Hope McLeod had singles in the first two at-bats of the season, and a base hit from Macie Kinsey brought in Kiley Kerr for Lincoln's first run of 2017.

The RiverHawks took advantage of a pair of hits and a Lincoln error in the bottom of the first to bring in three runs, and managed to control the contest the rest of the way. In the third inning, a McLeod hit and a walk issued to Tori Nienhueser allowed LU to put runners on second and third, but a ground out ended that threat. Later, in the fifth inning, the Blue Tigers loaded the bases on hits by Mykenzie Livesay and Kiley Kerr as well as an error on a fielder's choice, but Livesay was thrown out at the plate to prevent LU from putting more runs on the board.

Lauren Morrow also had a hit in the opener while Kinsey and Jordan Lawson each tied for the team-lead with three putouts apiece. Chelsey Kerr added two putouts while Morrow turned a pair of assists. Delayne Patton had a strikeout in the circle in a relief role.

Henderson State 8, Lincoln 1
Lincoln's second game of the season was a true road contest against Henderson State. The Blue Tigers once again struck first, as a Reddie error allowed Nienhueser to score in the top of the opening frame. The Blue Tigers managed four hits, but Henderson State tallied eight and used a pair of LU errors to win in seven innings.

Nienhueser had two of Lincoln's four hits while the others belonged to Kiley Kerr and Morrow. Kinsey again led LU in putouts with seven, followed by McLeod with five and Nienhueser with four. Nienhueser also had a pair of assists.

The Blue Tigers will close out the Ronnie Hawkins Invitational on Saturday (Feb. 4) with two more games, beginning with a 9:00 a.m. CST true road contest against Ouachita Baptist. Lincoln will then remain on OBU's field to play Rogers State at 11:00 a.m. CST.