JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Lincoln softball team exploded for 23 hits and 16 runs, but dropped a non-conference double-header to Lindenwood on Wednesday afternoon (April 12). The first game went into extra innings before Lindenwood escaped with a 12-9 win. In the nightcap, Lincoln forced a tie in the fifth inning, but the Lady Lions scored four late runs to secure a 12-7 victory.

After two scoreless innings in the opener, Lindenwood (18-19) managed to push four runs across the plate in the top of the third inning and one more in the top of the fourth for a 5-0 advantage. Lincoln (3-35) rallied in the bottom half of that inning though, as base hits by Jordan Lawson and Sarah Westhoff and a Lindenwood fielding error allowed the Blue Tigers to load the bases. Back-to-back doubles by Lauren Morrow, who recorded three RBI, and Macie Kinsey brought in Lincoln's first four runs of the afternoon, and Kinsey later scored on another error to even the scoreboard at five-all.

Lindenwood broke the tie by scoring on a wild pitch in the fifth inning, then later added two more runs on an RBI single in the sixth and a fielder's choice in the seventh. The Blue Tigers went back to work in the bottom half of the frame, as Lawson hit a three-run homer to tie the score at seven and force extra innings.

In the top of the eighth, however, Lindenwood scored on a sacrifice fly to break the tie, then hit a three-run homer of its own to take a 12-8 advantage. Tori Nienhueser brought in Morrow on an infield hit in the bottom of the extra frame to pull the Blue Tigers within three, but Lindenwood managed to keep Lincoln off the board after that point.

Lincoln finished with 10 hits in the opener, including two each by Lawson, Kinsey and Kiley Kerr. Chelsey Kerr also had a hit, and Morrow and Lawson each scored twice. Mykenzie Livesay reached base five times, and scored once.

Madison Ragar pitched the complete game and notched two strikeouts. Livesay and Kinsey tied for the team-high with five putouts apiece, and Paige Parker recorded four. Livesay and Lawson each added four assists.

The second game also featured plenty of scoring, including in the top of the first inning, when Kiley Kerr led the game off with a single before scoring on a base hit by Livesay. Lindenwood answered with a run in both the bottom of the first and second innings, but Lincoln would re-take the lead in the top of the third.

Lawson led that inning off with a walk, then took third on a double by Chelsey Kerr. A base hit by Morrow brought in Lawson to tie the game at two. The Blue Tigers weren't finished, though, as Chelsey Kerr later scored on a single from Maddie Stricklan. Maci Marshall followed that up with a base hit to plate Morrow, providing Lincoln with a 4-2 advantage.

The Lady Lions had an answer once again, however, as Lindenwood scored five runs on five hits in the bottom of the third. Neither team was able to score in the fourth, but Lincoln found its offense again in the top of the fifth, as Nienhueser led the frame off with a double. Singles by Stricklan and Marshall loaded the bases, and Nienhueser scored on a base hit through the middle by Kiley Kerr. Livesay singled to bring home Stricklan, and Marshall tied the game when she scored on a bases-loaded walk.

The tie did not last for long, though, as Lindenwood used three hits to bring in three runs in the bottom half of the fifth. Kinsey had a lead-off double in the sixth, but that ended up concluding Lincoln's offense for the afternoon. The Lady Lions, meanwhile, pushed across a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Five different Blue Tigers - Kiley Kerr, Livesay, Morrow, Stricklan and Marshall - each had two hits in the nightcap as Lincoln finished with 13 hits in total. Three other Blue Tigers - Chelsey Kerr, Kinsey and Nienhueser - had one hit each, and seven different Blue Tigers scored a run. Livesay finished with two RBI.

Westhoff started the game in the circle and notched a strikeout. Livesay led the defense with five putouts, and Kinsey was next with four. Westhoff also registered a team-high four assists, while Lawson finished with two.

The Blue Tigers will remain at home on Friday (April 14) to resume MIAA play with a double-header against Missouri Southern. First pitch for those games is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CDT.