JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Twenty-four total hits and a no-hitter by Delayne Patton helped the Lincoln softball team sweep Harris Stowe in a pair of games at LU Softball Field on Wednesday (March 28). Lincoln took the first game, 18-4, and won the second, 10-0, with both games lasting five innings.

Patton's shutout victory in the nightcap came in a contest in which she allowed just five base-runners and no hits while notching three strikeouts. She becomes the first Blue Tiger pitcher in at least seven years to throw a no-hitter and picks up her second shutout win of the season. Patton had previously started a combined shutout win over Stephens earlier this season.

Eight different Blue Tigers had a hit in the second contest, with Tori Nienhueser tallying a pair of hits and two RBI. Rachael Balke also had two hits while Kiley Kerr, Jordan Lawson, Chelsey Kerr, Andrea Wanta Emily Williams and Mykenzie Livesay each had one. Livesay hit a three-RBI double in the second inning, as Lincoln built an 8-0 lead in the frame after a scoreless first inning. Williams stole home for one of her two runs in the contest while Kiley Kerr closed the scoring by taking home on a triple by Balke.

Camryn Pryor, who had reached base twice on walks, led LU with four putouts, and Kiley Kerr and Balke each had three. Patton led LU with three assists.

In the opener, Harris Stowe (1-5) plated a pair of unearned runs in the first inning, but Lincoln (5-25) answered with three runs of its own in the bottom half of the frame, including two on a base hit by Chelsey Kerr. Lincoln stretched its lead to 7-2 with four more scores in the second inning, and plated two more scores in the third inning. In the bottom of the fourth, eight different Blue Tigers scored a run, with Pryor scoring twice as Lincoln doubled its run output to 18.

Livesay led the LU offense, which accounted for 14 hits, with a double and a pair of singles as well as three runs. Chelsey Kerr and Nienhueser each had two RBI, and Williams, Wanta and Kiley Kerr each notched a pair of hits. Lawson and Balke each also scored three runs.

Madison Ragar pitched the Blue Tigers to the win in the opener, finishing with four strikeouts while allowing just one earned run. Williams had four putouts to lead the LU defense, and Nienhueser provided two assists.

Lincoln will return to the road this weekend for four MIAA contests, starting on Friday (March 30) with a twinbill in Tahlequah, Okla. against Northeastern State. First pitch for those games is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CDT.