ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The Lincoln softball team dropped two games to Nebraska Kearney on Tuesday (March 28). The Lopers won a high-scoring first game, 11-5, and beat the Blue Tigers in the second, 8-1. The contests were played were played on Lindenwood University's campus with Lincoln as the home team after excessive rain prevented the games from being played in Jefferson City.

Neither team was able to push a run across the plate in the opener in the first two innings, but the Lopers plated a pair of scores in the top of the third. Lincoln responded well in the bottom half of the frame, as Chelsey Kerr led the frame off with a triple. Kiley Kerr then was issued a walk, and later stole second, a fielding error followed by a fielder's choice allowed both players to score. Mykenzie Livesay and Tori Nienhueser scored later in the frame to five the Blue Tigers a 4-2 lead.

Nebraska Kearney (5-29, 2-6 MIAA) had an answer in the next inning, however, as the Lopers scored five runs in the top of the fourth on five hits and an error. Lincoln (3-25, 0-8 MIAA) stranded a pair of runners in the bottom of that inning, but got a run back in the fifth when Maci Marshall scored on a single from Kiley Kerr. The Lopers took an 8-5 lead on a solo homerun in the sixth, and closed the game with three more scores in the seventh.

Seven different Blue Tigers had a hit in Tuesday's first game, including Nienhueser, Kinsey, Marshall, Lauren Morrow and Paige Parker. Madison Ragar notched a strikeout as the game's starting pitcher, and closer Kinsey struck out two Loper batters. Ragar, Livesay, Parker, Morrow and Kiley Kerr each had three putouts, and Livesay turned two assists.

The second game was a defensive tussle until the fourth inning, when Nebraska Kearney exploded for six runs on six hits and an error. The Lopers plated two more runs in the fifth, but Lincoln got on the board in the bottom half of that frame. Chelsey Kerr opened that inning with a base hit before scoring on a double from Livesay. Lincoln had other opportunities, but ultimately stranded six runners on base.

Kiley Kerr led LU with two hits and Nienhueser had one. Sarah Westhoff pitched the entire game and finished with four strikeouts. Kinsey led the Blue Tiger defense with seven putouts while Livesay and Marshall each recorded four. Livesay added three assists and Jordan Lawson provided two.

The Blue Tigers are currently scheduled to play on Friday (March 31), weather permitting, against Northeastern State. Lincoln is slated to host the RiverHawks for a double-header, with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CDT.