KANSAS CITY, Kan. - It was a scoreless affair through five innings, but Washburn squeezed two runs through in the sixth to hand the Lincoln softball team a 2-1 loss in the first game of a double-header on Thursday (March 7). The Blue Tigers also fell in the second game, 8-0, with both contests being played at Kansas City Kansas Community College due to weather concerns on Washburn's campus.

The opener was a pitchers' duel, with LU starter Shannon Greene going the distance while ringing up two strikeouts. The Ichabods ended the game with a slight 6-5 advantage in hits, and Lincoln stranded four WU baserunners throughout the game.

Lincoln (1-13, 0-2 MIAA) had several opportunities to get on the board, starting in the third inning, when a Jordan Lawson single sent Bekah Kirker to third base. In the top of the sixth, Lincoln loaded the bases as Kirker was issued a walk and Lawson and Rachael Balke followed with consecutive base hits. Washburn(9-9, 2-0 MIAA)) was able to do just enough defensively, however, to keep it a scoreless ballgame.

In the bottom of the sixth, a double and a base hit allowed the Ichabods to plate a pair of runs. Lincoln answered in the seventh, as Tori Nienhueser led the frame off with a double before scoring on a throwing error. Despite getting the tying run on base, WU managed to escape with the one-run win.

Camryn Pryor also had a hit for Lincoln, and Nienhueser and Kirker each turned five assists. Casey Grover, meanwhile, led the Lincoln defense with 11 putouts.

In the second game, Washburn held Lincoln to four hits, and pulled away in the fourth inning with four runs on four hits and an error. Hannah Hennessy pitched the entire game for Lincoln, and registered a pair of strikeouts.

Kirker led the game off with a single and moved into scoring position during the next at-bat, and a Livesay hit followed by a walk issued to Kirker gave LU a pair of base-runners in the third. Pryor and Emily Williams also had hits for Lincoln.

Grover again led the LU defense with four putouts, and Nienhueser and Gabi McGinty each recorded three. Kirker posted a team-high three assists.

Lincoln will play another neutral site double-header on Friday (March 8), as the Blue Tigers travel to Andover, Kan. to take on Emporia State in a 12:00 p.m. CST twinbill at Andover Central High School.