JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Lincoln softball team closed its 2017 home slate on Wednesday (April 19) as the Blue Tigers dropped a pair of non-conference games to Quincy. The Hawks took the first game, 5-0, and held on to win the second, 12-5.

In the first game, Macie Kinsey hit a double, and Kiley Kerr and Lauren Morrow also had hits. The Blue Tigers ended up stranding four runners on base, however, and Quincy broke a scoreless tie with a four-run fifth inning to take control of the contest.

Madison Ragar pitched the complete game and notched a strikeout. Kinsey led the defense with eight putouts while Mykenzie Livesay finished with four. Jordan Lawson totaled a team-high seven assists.

The second game featured a lot more offense, beginning in the top of the first inning, when Quincy (15-23) scored on a steal and a sacrifice fly for an early 2-0 lead. Lincoln (5-43) got on the board in the bottom of the second, as Tori Nienhueser brought home both Kinsey and Livesay on a double. A bases-loaded walk later brought in Nienhueser to give the lead to the Blue Tigers, 3-2.

The Hawks took the lead back in the third inning, scoring two more runs on a triple and a ground out for a 4-3 advantage. That began a stretch of 10 unanswered runs for Quincy, who took a 12-3 advantage into the bottom of the sixth.

Morrow got on base with a walk in that frame, and later scored on a single down the right field line by Livesay. In the ensuing at-bat, Nienhueser got another hit, and Kinsey scored to pull the Blue Tigers to within seven. Neither team scored in the final inning, however, and Quincy held on for the victory.

Lincoln had nine hits in the second game, including two apiece by Livesay and Nienhueser. Maddie Stricklan, Chelsey Kerr, Morrow, Kiley Kerr and Kinsey had the other hits for LU. Kinsey again led the defense with seven putouts while Nienhueser tallied four and Kiley Kerr was responsible for three. Lawson finished with three assists and Livesay and Sarah Westhoff each had two.

The Blue Tigers will finish the 2017 season on the road, beginning on Sunday (April 23) with an MIAA double-header at Central Missouri. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CDT.