Complete Game Notes
Games #23-24: No. 12 Rogers State (16-8, 5-3 MIAA) at Lincoln (3-18-1, 1-9 MIAA)
Date:  Friday, April 2 at 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. CT
Site: LU Softball Field in Jefferson City, Mo.
Live Stats: https://lubluetigers.com/sidearmstats/softball

Games #25-26: Northeastern State (16-10, 4-4 MIAA) at Lincoln
Date:  Saturday, April 3 at 12:00 p.m. & 2:00 p.m. CT
Site: LU Softball Field in Jefferson City, Mo.
Live Stats: https://lubluetigers.com/sidearmstats/softball

* - Opponent Records as of 3/31/21

THE LEAD OFF:  Four more conference games await the LU softball team this week, starting on Friday (April 2). The Blue Tigers host Rogers State, currently ranked No. 12 in the NFCA Division II poll, at LU softball field for a 1:00 p.m. CDT twinbill. Lincoln also hosts Northeastern State for two games on Saturday (April 3) starting at 12:00 p.m. CDT. These will be the first home games for the Blue Tigers since March 21, as Lincoln has been on the road for each of its last six contests, including a pair of non-league games at Lindenwood on Tuesday (March 30). The Blue Tigers pitched well in those contests, with LU's aces combining for nine strikeouts while throwing 10 shutout innings.

PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  Emily Williams owns a .352 batting average with 19 hits on the season, and Jacqueline Marquez leads Lincoln with 20 hits while batting .351. Jordan Hollon has 12 RBI on 13 hits with three homeruns, and is tied with Jordan Lawson for the team-lead with 10 runs. Kendra Holt, who has hit eight doubles, has tallied 10 RBI and 15 hits. In the circle, Tressa Hughes has struck out 22 batters and has a win, and Maddie Welker has two victories while Hannah Clark and Shannon Greene each have saves.

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.

LAST TIME OUT:  Lincoln played four MIAA games on the road last weekend, and played two contests at Lindenwood on Tuesday (March 30). Below are brief recaps of those contests:

Game 17: UCO 8, LU 0:  Alex Miller and Jacqueline Marquez each had hits for Lincoln, but Central Oklahoma, then-ranked No. 23 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's Division II poll, scored three runs in the final two innings to beat the Blue Tigers on Friday (March 26). As a reliever, Miller also struck out a Broncho.

Game 18: UCO 10, LU 1:  Emily Williams had two hits, including an RBI single to score Jacqueline Marquez, but Central Oklahoma earned the win in Friday's second game. Leah Wagner and Alex Miller also had hits, and Shannon Greene and Ashton Stalling each had strikeouts in the circle.

Game 19: NU 7, LU 6:  The Blue Tigers led 6-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh, but the Jets scored five runs in the final frame as Newman won the opener on Saturday (March 27). Jordan Hollon hit a two-run homer in the sixth, Kendra Holt drove in two runs and hit a solo HR herself, and Tressa Hughes struck out three Jets as LU's starter. Jordan Lawson, Emily Williams, Hughes and Alex Miller also had hits for Lincoln.

Game 20: NU 10, LU 2:  Newman scored five runs in each of the second and third innings to win the second game on Saturday afternoon. Both of LU's runs came in the third, as base hits from Emily Williams and Alex Miller respectively brought in Jacqueline Marquez and Kendra Holt. Marquez, Holt, Alivia Rymer and Jordan Hollon also had hits in the contest.

Game 21: LWU 4, LU 0:  The Blue Tigers shut out Lindenwood in four of its six offensive innings, but a pair of scores in both the fourth and sixth frames helped Lindenwood notch the victory. Alex Miller started in the circle and struck out four while Ashton Stalling forced the only batter she faced to hit into a double play.

Game 22: LWU 1, LU 0:  Maddie Welker had a shutout going through six innings, and allowed just five hits while ringing up five strikeouts. The Lady Lions managed to push a run across the plate in the bottom of the seventh, however, as Lindenwood won in Tuesday's second game. Jordan Lawson went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Lincoln offensively.

SCOUTING THE HILLCATS:  Eight RSU players have at least 10 hits, including Makayla Bowman, who has 24 hits, 21 RBI and 15 runs. Danelle Day has 18 RBI on 21 hits, and Elexis Watson leads the Hillcats with 23 RBI. Tailee Reding has scored a team-high 21 runs. In the circle, Rogers State is led by Andrea Morales, who has 92 strikeouts and an 8-4 record, while M'Kayla Hillman is 6-1 with a 1.27 ERA.

SCOUTING THE RIVERHAWKS:  Gail Young has an 11-4 record and a 2.97 ERA while leading Northeastern State with 86 strikeouts. Rhonnie Bradshaw leads NSU offensively with 40 hits, a .421 average and 23 RBI. Both Alyssia Crick and Chloe Bohuslavicky have 22 RBI, and Addie Elbon has scored 22 runs.

EMILY AT THE BAT:  Emily Williams enjoyed an outstanding season in 2020, leading Lincoln in hits (22) and batting average (.379). That success has continued in 2021, as Williams leads Lincoln with a .352 average and has 19 hits. Williams has 11 RBI and has hit three doubles and a triple.

ON DECK:  The Blue Tigers are back home on Tuesday (April 6) to host Missouri S&T in a 1:00 p.m. CDT double-header.