OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Chelsey Kerr and Jordan Lawson each hit three-run homers as the Lincoln softball team beat NCAA Division I opponent Grambling State 13-4 in the National HBCU Classic on Friday (March 3).

Both teams scored in the first inning, with Lincoln getting on the board via a bases-loaded walk while Grambling State brought in a run on an RBI double. The second inning, however, belonged to the Blue Tigers, as Lincoln plated eight runs on five hits and a pair of GSU errors.

Paige Parker got the offense started with a single, Kiley Kerr reached on a walk and Parker scored when Mykenzie Livesay safely reached on a throwing error. Kiley Kerr later scored on a base hit by Madison Ragar, and Macie Kinsey scored Livesay on a single into left center.

Following a sacrifice fly by Lauren Morrow that plated Jordan Lawson, Tori Nienhueser sent one into left centerfield to bring home Ragar. That brought up Chelsey Kerr, who hit a shot over the fence for a three-run homer, scoring Nienhueser and Kinsey to give Lincoln a 9-1 advantage.

The Blue Tigers put another run on the board in the third inning on another bases-loaded walk, but Grambling State hit a solo homerun in the bottom half of the frame to keep the LU lead at eight. In the top of the fourth, though, Kiley Kerr was issued a walk and Livesay singled, setting up Lawson, who hit Lincoln's second three-run shot of the afternoon. GSU added two scores in the bottom of the fifth, but got no closer as Lincoln won in five frames.

Livesay, Lawson and Kinsey each had a pair of hits in the win, with Kinsey joining Chelsey Kerr and Lawson with three RBI. Kiley Kerr, meanwhile, was walked three times. Defensively, Kinsey led the way with five putouts while Ragar and Sarah Westhoff each turned two assists. Ragar, Westhoff and Kinsey each struck out batters in the circle with Ragar picking up the win.

Earlier on Friday, Lincoln played Jarvis Christian in its first game of the National HBCU Classic. The difference in that contest was a four-run second inning by the Bulldogs, as Jarvis Christian claimed a 5-1 victory over the Blue Tigers.

Lincoln was held to three hits while Jarvis Christian tallied 13, but the Blue Tigers held the Bulldogs to just five runs on the afternoon. Chelsey Kerr scored Lincoln's run on a sacrifice fly by Ragar in the top of the second, but that ended up being LU's lone score of the ballgame.

Kiley Kerr, Ragar and Kinsey each had hits for Lincoln. Defensively, Kinsey recorded nine putouts and Lawson was responsible for three. Nienhueser turned four assists while Lawson and Westhoff each had two.

The Blue Tigers will continue their play in the National HBCU Classic with games on Saturday (March 4) against Talladega and Langston.