JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Lincoln softball team swept Missouri S&T on Tuesday (March 10), winning the first game in extra innings, 4-3, while using a big fourth inning to take the second, 5-3. The victories kept Lincoln undefeated at LU Softball Field, improving the Blue Tigers to 8-0 in home games in 2020.

Missouri S&T (3-13) led for most of the first game, using an RBI double in the third to take a 1-0 advantage into the seventh. With one out on the board, Alex Miller was issued a walk, then advanced to second on a ground out. Down to its final out, Lincoln (8-10) tied the game as Jordan Hollon hit a double into right centerfield, forcing extra innings.

The teams decided the tie-breaker using international rules, with both teams beginning the inning with a runner on second base. A double allowed Missouri S&T to briefly take a 2-1 lead, but Lincoln answered in the bottom of the eighth with Ashton Stalling taking third on a sacrifice bunt from Payton Mooney before scoring on a wild pitch.

In the ninth inning, a single through the middle allowed the Miners to go back up by one, but LU answered in a big way in the bottom half of the frame. Kendra Holt reached base on balls, and both she and Emily Williams moved into scoring position on a sacrifice play by Miller. Jordan Lawson then ended the game with a hit deep enough into centerfield to bring in both Holt and Williams.

Ashton Stalling pitched the entire nine inning contest, striking out two while allowing just one earned run. Mooney, Williams and Mykenzie Livesay also had hits for the Blue Tigers, and Holt had seven putouts while Livesay finished with six. Bekah Kirker turned four assists while Livesay and Hollon were credited with two apiece.

Tressa Hughes had a great day in the circle in game two, fanning seven in six innings of work to pick up the win. Shannon Greene retired the only three batters she faced to earn the save, and Paige Parker had seven putouts while Livesay finished with four.

The Miners against struck first, leading off the second with a triple before scoring on a sacrifice fly. The 1-0 lead would hold until the bottom of the fourth, when Lincoln exploded for four hits and five runs. Mykenzie Livesay drove in Kirker with a double, then scored on a base hit by Williams that also plated Hughes. Williams and Holt, who had a single, each scored later in the frame on a double by Miller, putting Lincoln ahead for good.

Livesay, Williams and Holt all had two hits apiece while Lawson had a hit and a stolen base. The Blue Tigers out-hit the Miners, 8-6, and played error-free softball.

Lincoln travels to Bolivar, Mo. on Wednesday (March 11) to play Southwest Baptist in a 1:00 p.m. CDT double-header.