WARRENSBURG, Mo. - The Lincoln softball team rallied from a late deficit to force extra innings, but Central Missouri used an RBI single in the eighth to earn a 4-3 win in the first game on Sunday (April 23). The teams played a pair of contests on Sunday, with Central Missouri taking the second game, 9-2.

In the opener, Central Missouri (26-25, 15-9 MIAA) took advantage of three hits in the bottom of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. The Jennies added a score in the bottom of the fifth, and maintained that 3-0 advantage entering the seventh frame.

Lincoln (5-45, 2-22 MIAA) got on board in the top of the seventh when Macie Kinsey hit a homerun over the left centerfield fence, scoring Jordan Lawson in the process. In the very next at-bat, Tori Nienhueser hit a homerun out of centerfield to tie the game at three. UCM used a pair of strikeouts to keep the game tied, but LU forced the Jennies to go down in order in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extras.

Kiley Kerr led Lincoln with two hits and Madison Ragar had a strikeout during her complete-game performance in the circle. Nienhueser posted a team-high seven putouts, and Kinsey recorded six. Nienhueser also tallied four assists while Lawson and Mykenzie Livesay each had two.

In the second game, the Jennies again took an early lead with three runs in the first inning, and finished with 15 hits en route to the win. Lincoln's runs came in the fifth inning, as Nienhueser, Maddie Stricklan and Maci Marshall were each issued walks to load the bases. Livesay grounded out to bring home Nienhueser, and Stricklan scored on an error.

Kerr and Kinsey each had hits for LU, with Kerr also earning an RBI. Sarah Westhoff and Kinsey each had strikeouts in the circle while Nienhueser posted five assists and Marshall registered two. Kinsey led the defense with six putouts.

The Blue Tigers will close the 2017 season on Monday (April 24) as Lincoln travels to Bolivar, Mo. for a double-header with Southwest Baptist. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CDT.