MARYVILLE, Mo. - The Lincoln softball team once again used the long ball to its advantage, as the Blue Tigers recorded their 16th home run of the season, but LU dropped a pair of games to Northwest Missouri on Monday (April 1). Northwest Missouri pulled away in the latter innings of the first contest for a 15-2 victory, and won the second game by a final score of 15-0.

After the Bearcats took a 2-0 lead on a homer in the second inning of the opener, Lincoln tied the game at two when Camryn Pryor hit the ball over the center field fence in the top of the third, scoring Bekah Kirker in the process. NWMSU pulled away afterwards, though Lincoln finished with six hits in the contest, including two by Pryor.

Tori Nienhueser had a base hit in the top of the second, giving LU a pair of base runners after Emily Williams was issued a walk. Rachael Balke also had a hit in the third inning for Lincoln, and base hits by Williams and Gabi McGinty led to the Blue Tigers having two runners in scoring position in the top of the fourth.

Pryor led the Blue Tiger defense with four putouts, and Kirker finished with two assists. Hannah Hennessy had a strikeout in the circle.

In the second game, Kirker, Nienhueser and Jordan Lawson had hits for the Blue Tigers, with Lawson's single moving Kirker to third base in the top of the third. Northwest Missouri (7-14, 2-6 MIAA) took advantage of 14 hits, however, to earn its second victory of the afternoon.

Shannon Greene rang up four strikeouts while pitching the night cap, and Lincoln (4-28, 1-13 MIAA) was led defensively by Williams with four putouts and Pryor with three.

Lincoln remains on the road on Tuesday (April 2), as the Blue Tigers travel to St. Joseph, Mo. for a double-header against Missouri Western. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. CDT.