JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Lincoln softball team had one of its best offensive days in program history on Monday (Feb. 26) as the Blue Tigers scored 58 runs on 45 hits to sweep Stephens. Lincoln took the first game, 35-2, and won the night cap, 23-0.

In the opener, Lincoln (2-6) scored 10 runs in the bottom of the first before plating 12 more in the second to take control of the ball game. A double that scored a pair of unearned runs in the top of the third marked the only offense of the contest for Stephens (0-4), as the Blue Tigers proceeded to send seven more across the plate in the bottom half of the frame before closing the contest with six runs in the fourth.

Rachael Balke tallied three hits and three walks and led the Blue Tigers with six runs. Jordan Lawson had seven RBI on four hits and scored four times while Emily Williams, who had three runs and three RBI, and Chelsey Kerr each had four hits. Chelsey Kerr also produced four runs and two RBI.

Kiley Kerr and Camryn Pryor each had five RBI and four runs, with Kiley Kerr tallying two hits and Pryor notching three. Alyssa Schulte also scored four runs on two hits with an RBI, and Mykenzie Livesay added three runs, a pair of hits and two RBI to the winning cause. Andrea Wanta registered two hits, two RBI and a run, and Tori Nienhueser provided a hit, a run and two RBI. Delayne Patton reached base on both of her at-bats and also scored a run.

Madison Ragar picked up the win in the circle while Schulte closed the contest, with both pitchers recording a pair of strikeouts. Williams and Pryor paced LU defensively with four putouts apiece while Chelsey Kerr had two assists.

The bats stayed alive in the second contest, beginning in the second inning, when Lincoln drove in 18 runs on 14 hits. Chelsey Kerr capped off that scoring with a two-run homer, and LU got the offense going again in the third inning with five more runs. Patton started in the circle and notched a strikeout while earning a combined shutout with Lawson, who pitched the final frame and fanned two batters.

Chelsey Kerr had five RBI on four hits with two runs, and Balke added three hits, three runs and four RBI to the Lincoln effort. Schulte scored three runs on two hits with two RBI, and Nienhueser finished the game with three RBI, three runs and a pair of hits. Lawson had four RBI, bringing her total to 11 for the afternoon, and notched two hits while scoring twice.

Kiley Kerr also had three runs and registered a pair of hits as well as an RBI. Livesay scored twice and had a hit, and Pryor recorded three runs and a hit. Wanta, meanwhile, had a hit to go with an RBI and two runs. Defensively, Pryor had five putouts while Balke finished with four and Livesay turned three assists.

Up next for Lincoln is the National HBCU Softball Classic, which will be played in Oklahoma City, Okla. at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, the site of the NCAA Division I Softball World Series. Lincoln will open the tourney on Friday (March 2) with games against Texas College (2:30 p.m. CST) and Texas Southern (4:30 p.m. CST) before playing Grambling State (2:30 p.m. CST) and Langston (4:30 p.m. CST) on Saturday (March 3).