SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The Lincoln softball team finished with 11 combined hits, but the Blue Tigers dropped a pair of games at the Drury Invitational on Saturday (Feb. 29).

In the opener against Newman, Mykenzie Livesay led Lincoln with two hits, while Ashton Stalling, Bekah Kirker and Kendra Holt each had one apiece. The Jets built up an early 5-0 lead before Lincoln got on the board in the bottom of the third, with a par of NU errors allowing Holt and Jordan Lawson to score. Newman would go on to win the game, 13-2.

Alex Miller struck out three Newman batters, and Holt had a team-high six putouts while Payton Mooney was next with four. Kirker had three assists, Miller and Jordan Hollon each had two and Livesay and Emily Williams turned one apiece.

In the second game, Williams had a pair of hits, and Miller and Livesay each had RBI doubles. Lincoln out-hit Southwest Baptist, 6-5, but a four-run third inning helped the Bearcats take the game, 7-3.

Facing a 5-0 deficit entering the sixth, the Blue Tigers got back in the game with three runs in the top half of the frame. Payton Good got on base via an error, Williams also reached on an error, and the first Lincoln run of the game came when Miller hit a double to plate Good. Both Williams and Miller scored on the next play, as Livesay's double pulled LU to within 5-3.

The Bearcats answered with two runs on two hits in the bottom of the sixth, and kept Lincoln off the board in the seventh to secure the win. Hollon also had a hit for Lincoln, and Tressa Hughes struck out three Bearcats while Miller fanned one. Holt led LU with six putouts, and Hollon turned three assists.

Lincoln heads to St. Charles, Mo. on Monday (March 2) to play Lindenwood in a 2:00 p.m. CST double-header.