Complete Game Notes
Game #1: Lincoln (0-0) vs. Miles (0-0)
Date: Friday, Feb. 5 at 12:00 p.m. CST
Site: Huntsville Sportsplex in Huntsville, Ala.
 
Game #2: Lincoln vs. #6 Young Harris (0-0)
Date: Friday, Feb. 5 at 3:00 p.m. CST
Site: Huntsville Sportsplex in Huntsville, Ala.
 
Game #3: Lincoln vs. Kentucky Wesleyan (0-0)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 6 at 11:00 a.m. CST
Site: Huntsville Sportsplex in Huntsville, Ala.
 
Game #4: Lincoln vs. West Alabama (0-0)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 6 at 2:00 p.m. CST
Site: Huntsville Sportsplex in Huntsville, Ala.
 
THE LEAD OFF:  The Lincoln softball team begins its 2021 season this weekend with four games as part of the Charger Chillout, hosted by the University of Alabama Huntsville in Huntsville, Ala. on Friday and Saturday (Feb. 5-6). The Blue Tigers open the year on Friday at 12:00 p.m. CST with a game against Miles, then later that day play Young Harris at 3:00 p.m. CST. That latter game will give the Blue Tigers an early test against one of the best NCAA Division II teams, as the National Fastpitch Coaches Association ranked Young Harris at No. 6 in its preseason poll. On Saturday at 11:00 a.m. CST, Lincoln will play Kentucky Wesleyan, then will close the 2021 Charger Chillout at 2:00 p.m. CST on Saturday with a game against West Alabama. The Blue Tigers will try to build on momentum from their 2020 campaign, in which they started 4-0 and finished 8-12 before COVID-19 caused the season to end early.
 
PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  Lincoln returns nearly everyone from its 2020 roster, including three Blue Tigers who batted at least .300 during that 20-game year. Emily Williams led LU with a .379 average and 22 hits, and tied Alex Miller with 12 runs scored. Jordan Lawson hit .309 and tallied 17 hits and nine runs, and Kendra Holt batted .306 with 15 hits, nine runs and a team-high 14 RBI. Miller, meanwhile, had 12 RBI on 13 hits, and had two homeruns as well as five doubles. Jordan Hollon had 13 hits as well, resulting in nine RBI. In the circle, Tressa Hughes threw 41.0 innings and posted a 3-4 record while both Hannah Clark and Ashton Stalling has two wins.
 
HEAD COACH CHRISTINE CORE:  Now in her third year as the coach of the Blue Tigers, Core helped Lincoln improve in nearly every offensive category in 2019, and in 2020 led LU to its highest win total since 2013. Two LU players earned All-MIAA honors under her direction. She took over the Lincoln program after a successful two-year run at Covenant, where she won 45 games.
 
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN BEARS:  Miles went 7-11 in 2020 and return three players who hit .300 or better. Emerald Coachman (.344) had 13 RBI and tied Alexus Gonzalez (.314) with 11 hit each. Yasmin Cottingham (.302) had 13 hits and 12 RBI while fellow return Davis Watkins led the team with 13 hits and 14 runs scored. In the circle, the team returns Magen Rich, who went 4-4 in nine starts, and Zamiyah Williams, who went 2-1.
 
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAIN LIONS:  Young Harris went 19-3 last season and opens this year ranked No. 6 in the NFCA Division II preseason poll. The Mountain Lions bring back six players who started all 22 games and were responsible for a total of 153 hits, led by Emily Harris, who had 38 hits and 37 runs a year ago. Other top offensive returners include Morgan Curley (.438 average, 32 hits, 27 RBI) and Carly Rigsbee (27 hits, 30 RBI). At pitcher, Haylie Shope was a perfect 8-0 last year, and Sara King went 5-1.
 
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS:  a 5-16 squad a year ago, Kentucky Wesleyan returns only one player who hit better than .250 in 2020: Meryck Hardley, who batted .306 with 19 hits and six runs. All three KWC pitchers who played last year are back, with Evyn Hendrickson (two victories) and Bailey Woodall (three wins) leading the way.
 
SCOUTING THE TIGERS:  West Alabama was supposed to open its season a week ago, but had to cancel its four games at the UM Classic. UWA went 8-14 in 2020, including 6-6 in neutral site games. Abby McKee (.325 average) and Cassie Matlock (18 hits) are the top returning batters, and Kamree Lay (4-4, 3.80 ERA) is the top pitcher.
 
TAKE THREE:  Lincoln hit four triples in 2020, the seventh-most of any MIAA team. Four different LU players accounted for those hits: Kendra Holt, Alex Miller, Jordan Lawson and Mykenzie Livesay, the last of whom is an assistant coach with this year's program. The Blue Tigers had 38 total multi-base hits in 20 games last year.
 
ALL-MIAA ALL THE TIME:  With another strong season in 2021, Jordan Lawson could make LU history. Lawson, who was selected as an All-MIAA honorable mention following each of her first three seasons with the Blue Tigers, is poised to become the first LU player in history to garner all-conference accolades four years in a row. As it stands, LU has had only one other player, Sam Kircher (2012-15), earn three All-MIAA accolades.
 
HOT START:  For the first time in the history of the program, Lincoln started 4-0 in 2020, with a pair of wins over Stephens College followed by a double-header sweep of Lane College. Lincoln had a dominant home field advantage, going 8-2 at LU Softball Field, and the Blue Tigers posted their highest win total since 2013 despite playing just 20 contests.
 
EMILY AT THE BAT:  Emily Williams enjoyed an outstanding season in 2020, leading Lincoln in hits (22) and batting average (.379). Williams tied for the team-lead in both runs scored (12) and in doubles (five), and she ended the shortened year with a .400 on-base percentage.
 
HOLT AT FIRST:  Kendra Holt, Lincoln's starting first baseman, had a big 2020 both at the plate & in the field. Holt led the Blue Tigers with 15 RBI on 14 hits, batted .306 and scored nine runs. At first base, she was responsible for a team-high 102 putouts and had a .991 fielding percentage.
 
BRINGING IT HOME:  No Lincoln player had a bigger impact on the scoreboard in 2020 than Alex Miller, who scored 12 runs and batted in 12 more. Miller had 13 hits on the season, including five doubles, a triple and two homeruns. She led the program with a .531 slugging percentage, and hit .265 for the season.
 
ON DECK:  Lincoln opens its 2021 home slate on Friday, Feb. 26, with a double-header against Westminster at 1:00 p.m. CST.