JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Late runs in both games helped Fort Hays State hand the Lincoln softball team a pair of losses on Sunday afternoon (March 21). The Blue Tigers dropped the first contest, 4-0, and the second, 10-4.

In the evening game, Fort Hays State (8-10, 2-0 MIAA) took an early 4-0 lead, but the Blue Tigers rallied in the fourth. Jordan Lawson reached on a walk and later scored LU's first run of the day on a double by Kendra Holt. In the next at-bat, Holt scored off a base hit by Jordan Hollon, and another double, this one by Alex Miller, drove in Hollon to pull the Blue Tigers to within 4-3.

A two-out double brought in a fifth run for Fort Hays State in the next inning, but Lincoln (3-12-1, 1-5 MIAA) got the run back in the bottom of the sixth. Leah Wagner came in as a pinch runner after Alivia Rymer was issued a walk, and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Hollon.

That ended up being the final score of the day for Lincoln, however, as LU was shut out in the seventh despite hits by Jacqueline Marquez and Lawson. FHSU, meanwhile, scored five runs in the top of the seventh to secure its win.

Lawson and Miller led LU with two hits apiece, and Leslie Callahan also had a hit as well as a stolen base. Tressa Hughes started in the circle and struck out three, and Holt had a team-high six putouts while Hollon, Lawson and Marquez were each responsible for three. Hollon had three assists and Callahan finished with two.

Late runs were also the key to Fort Hays State's win in game one, which was a pitcher's duel through the first six frames. The only run in that span came in the top of the fifth, as an RBI single allowed FHSU to score the first run of the day. Lincoln had seven base runners entering that frame, but all ended up stranded on the base path, with LU leaving the bags loaded in the fourth.

Fort Hays State padded its lead with three runs in the seventh, but before that point, Lincoln starter Maddie Welker had limited FHSU to just five hits. Marquez and Holt each had hits for LU, and Rymer turned four assists while Welker and Callahan had two apiece. Holt led the defense with 11 putouts.

On Wednesday (March 24), Lincoln will travel to Liberty, Mo. to play a double-header against William Jewell. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. CDT.