HAYS, Kan. - The Lincoln softball team dropped a double-header to MIAA rival Nebraska Kearney in a rare league neutral site twinbill on Saturday (March 17). The Lopers beat the Blue Tigers in the opener, 12-4, and won the nightcap, 8-3, with both contests being played at Fort Hays State University.

Kiley Kerr had two of LU's six hits in the first game, with Jordan Lawson, Camryn Pryor, Alyssa Schulte and Chelsey Kerr accounting for the rest of the offense. It was an error by UNK, however, that put the Blue Tigers on the board in the third inning. Trailing 3-0, Emily Williams, who reached via a walk, ended up scoring on a fielding error by the third baseman to help LU cut the deficit down to two.

Nebraska Kearney (8-17, 4-4 MIAA) ended up scoring six runs in the bottom of the third, however, and took advantage of 14 total hits to win the contest in five innings. A sacrifice fly by Mykenzie Livesay drove in Pryor in the fourth for LU's second run of the day, and in the fifth inning, Lawson brought in Kiley Kerr on a double before scoring on a base hit by Pryor.

Lincoln (3-19, 0-8 MIAA) was led defensively by Pryor with four putouts and Kiley Kerr and Chelsey Kerr each with three. Livesay turned a pair of assists and Delayne Patton notched a strikeout as the Blue Tigers' closer.

The Blue Tigers struck first in the second contest, as another Loper error allowed Lawson to score in the top of the first. Nebraska Kearney regrouped to bring in five runs in the bottom half of the frame, and made it a 6-1 contest in the second with a sacrifice fly.

Base hits by Kiley Kerr, Lawson and Livesay in the third inning led to LU's second run, but Nebraska Kearney hit a two-run homer in the fourth to close out its scoring. Chelsey Kerr hit a solo homerun to lead off the sixth inning for the final run of the afternoon.

Williams and Lawson each had two hits apiece, while Tori Nienhueser and Rachael Balke also had hits as LU finished with nine for the contest. Alyssa Schulte pitched the complete game and registered a strikeout while Pryor led the Blue Tiger defense with five putouts. Andrea Wanta posted a team-high three assists.

Lincoln will return home on Monday (March 19), as LU steps out of conference play to host a double-header against the St. Louis College of Pharmacy. First pitch at LU Softball Field is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CDT.