JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A pair of outstanding pitching performances helped the Lincoln softball team sweep a double-header against William Jewell on Wednesday (March 4). The Blue Tigers took the first game, 1-0, and won the second, 3-2.

Ashton Stalling picked up the shutout win in game one, and helped her own cause by scoring Lincoln's run in the top of the first. Stalling reached after being hit by a pitch, and took advantage of the free base by scoring on a single from Kendra Holt. Payton Good also had a hit for LU in the opener.

William Jewell (9-7) racked up five hits, but left seven runners on base as the Lincoln (6-6) defense preserved its second shutout of the season. Stalling struck out six Cardinal batters, and allowed just one WJC player to advance as far as third base.

Holt led the Blue Tigers with eight putouts in Wednesday's opener, and Paige Parker recorded six while Emily Williams and Mykenzie Livesay were responsible for three apiece. Bekah Kirker turned a team-high three assists, and Livesay and Jordan Hollon each had one.

The Cardinals got on board first in the night cap, scoring on an RBI double in the top of the first, but Lincoln didn't trail for long. After retiring the WJC side in order in the top of the second, the Blue Tigers drove in two runs in the bottom half of the frame, with the first coming on a double by Hollon. A base hit by Kirker brought in Hollon to make the score 2-1, and Lincoln never trailed the rest of the way.

Miller scored on the hit from Hollon in the second, and she reached home again in the sixth on another hit by Hollon. Miller had reached with a base hit herself, as Lincoln finished with an 8-5 advantage at the plate. Stalling, Lawson and Holt all had hits in game two, while Miller finished with two hits.

William Jewell attempted to rally in the seventh, pushing an unearned run across the plate on a single to cut the deficit back down to one, but Tressa Hughes completed the win by striking out the final batter. Hughes had seven total strikeouts in the victory compared to just one walk and one earned run.

Parker had eight putouts to lead the LU defense, and Holt finished with five. Hollon led Lincoln with three assists.

The Blue Tigers will open MIAA play this weekend, starting on Friday (March 6) when Lincoln travels to Kearney, Neb. to play Nebraska Kearney in a 12:00 p.m. CST double-header.