HAYS, Kan. - Despite homeruns by Tori Nienhueser and Camryn Pryor, the Lincoln softball team dropped both of its first two MIAA road games of the season to Fort Hays State on Friday (March 16). FHSU also had a big offensive day, winning the first game, 23-5, and the second, 13-5.

Lincoln (3-17, 0-6 MIAA) had 19 hits on the afternoon, including 11 in the opener, with four Blue Tigers tallying two hits apiece. Fort Hays State (6-18, 2-4 MIAA) started the game with seven runs in the bottom of the opening frame, though the Blue Tigers got on the board in the second when Chelsey Kerr scored on a base hit from Rachael Balke.

The Blue Tigers were kept off the scoreboard until the fifth inning, when LU closed the game by scoring four late runs. Kiley Kerr got the Blue Tigers started by leading off with a triple, Jordan Lawson drove her in on a single into left field, and Nienhueser hit a two-run shot over the left field wall.

Pryor would also score in the fifth inning after reaching on an error and advancing on hits by Chelsey Kerr and Emily Williams. Williams, Balke and Kiley Kerr each joined Chelsey Kerr with multiple hit performances, and Mykenzie Livesay also had a single to help the Blue Tiger cause.

Defensively, Pryor led LU with four putouts, Alyssa Schulte had three and Kiley Kerr provided two. Schulte and Madison Ragar each turned two assists.

In the second game, Fort Hays State once again took advantage of a big early lead, as FHSU drove in three runs in the first inning and seven more in the second. All five LU runs came in the fourth inning, starting when Chelsey Kerr plated both Balke and Lawson on a two-out double. Livesay also hit a double to bring home LU's third run.

In the very next at-bat, Pryor knocked the ball over the centerfield fence to cut the FHSU lead down to 10-5, but Fort Hays State drove in three more runs over the next two frames to end the contest with a win. Pryor and Lawson led LU with two hits apiece.

Schulte had three strikeouts in a closing roll for the Blue Tigers, and Delayne Patton, the game's starter, fanned one. Pryor had five putouts and Paige Parker provided four while Livesay and Nienhueser each notched two assists.

Lincoln will remain in Hays for a neutral site double-header against MIAA rival Nebraska Kearney on Saturday (March 17). First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m. CDT.