HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The Lincoln softball team played two hard-fought games, but dropped both contests on Saturday (Feb. 6) at the Charger Chillout. Below are recaps of each game.

Kentucky Wesleyan 1, Lincoln 0
It was a pitcher's duel for most of the contest, but an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh allowed Kentucky Wesleyan to win in Saturday's first game.

Hannah Clark allowed just four hits in a complete-game effort inside the circle, as she struck out five while keeping the Panthers off the board through six. Clark stranded six runners on base, and did not allow a runner to reach third base until the final frame.

KWC pitched equally well, however, as the Blue Tigers finished with five hits, but left 11 runners on base. In the top of the third, Leslie Callahan opened the frame with a triple, but ended up being thrown out at the plate on a fielder's choice. In the fourth, Jordan Lawson started the inning off with a double and stole third, but the Panthers managed to force three-straight outs. In later innings, both Callahan and Kendra Holt made it to third base, but Kentucky Wesleyan managed to end the inning with LU off the scoreboard.

Jacqueline Marquez, Qwynn Marquez and Holt also had hits for Lincoln, while Emily Williams and Alex Miller also found ways onto first base. On the defensive side of the ball, Alivia Rymer turned five assists while Jordan Hollon had three. Holt recorded six putouts, Jacqueline Marquez was responsible for five and Callahan and Hollon each had three.

West Alabama 9, Lincoln 6
The Blue Tigers took a big early lead, but West Alabama rallied in the fifth to win, 9-6, in Saturday's second game.

Two big hits allowed Lincoln to start the scoring early. Callahan began the game with a double, and, following a base hit by Williams, Hollon hit a homerun to give LU an early 3-0 advantage. The first-inning scoring didn't end there, however, as Lawson reached on a walk before giving Lincoln a four-run lead by scoring on a passed ball.

After a three-up, three-down inning by UWA, Lincoln added to its lead with a pair of runs in the second. Williams drove in Leah Wagner with a base hit through the left side, and Ashton Stalling came home on a sacrifice fly by Hollon.

The Blue Tigers once again forced West Alabama to go down in order in the second inning, but UWA began its comeback in the third. A bases-loaded walk accounted for the first run, and an RBI single led to the second. Two more UWA runners came home on an error, and West Alabama pulled to within 6-5 on another RBI single.

West Alabama ultimately took the lead in the bottom of the fifth, scoring on a wild pitch before a base hit brought in two more runs for an 8-6 advantage. Lincoln had an opportunity to get some of those runs back in the sixth, as Williams, Hollon and Holt loadd the bases, but UWA forced a ground out to end the scoring threat. UWA would go on to add an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth.

Williams went 4-for-4 at the plate with an RBI, and Callahan, Hollon, Lawson and Miller also had hits for LU. Hollon finished the day with four RBI, and Holt twice got on base via walks. In the circle, Tressa Hughes struck out two batters and Clark fanned one while Stalling did not allow an earned run in the closing role.

Holt had eight putouts to lead the Lincoln defense, and Callahan had three while Williams, Wagner and Stalling recorded two apiece. Hollon registered four assists while Bekah Kirker provided two.

Lincoln will be off until Friday, Feb. 26, when LU opens its home slate with a double-header against Westminster at 1:00 p.m. CST.