Complete Game Notes
Game #7: Lincoln (1-4-1) vs. Baker (0-2)
Date: Friday, March 5 at 10:45 a.m. CST
Site: USA HOF Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Game #8: Lincoln vs. Central Methodist (8-0)
Date: Friday, March 5 at 1:45 p.m. CST
Site: USA HOF Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Game #9: Lincoln vs. McPherson (3-3)
Date: Saturday, March 6 at 3:15 p.m. CST
Site: USA HOF Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Game #10: Lincoln vs. Langston (1-9)
Date: Saturday, March 6 at 4:45 p.m. CST
Site: USA HOF Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Live Streaming Link: https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/Events/2021/March/05/Langston-Red-Dirt-Softball-Classic

THE LEAD OFF:  The Lincoln softball team continues its 2021 campaign this weekend with four games as part of the Red Dirt Classic. On Friday (March 5), Lincoln takes on Baker at 10:45 a.m. CST and faces Central Methodist at 1:45 p.m. CST. On Saturday (March 6), the Blue Tigers will play McPherson at 3:15 p.m. CST and Langston, the organizer of the tournament, at 4:45 p.m. CST. All four games will be played at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium, the site of the College Softball World Series, in Oklahoma City, Okla. It's the second tourney of the year for Lincoln, which opened 2021 at the Charger Chillout in Alabama on Feb. 5-6.

PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  Emily Williams is off to a tremendous start with a .467 average, seven hits and five RBI. She is tied in the latter category with Jordan Hollon, who has hit two homeruns and scored four runs. Leslie Callahan, a .294 batter, and Jordan Lawson, who is batting .353, also each have four hits, and Kendra Holt has three hits and three RBI. Jacqueline Marques also has four hits and is batting .364. Hannah Clark has a save and a team-low 2.03 ERA, and Tressa Hughes has a 2.17 ERA in 9.2 innings of work. Maddie Welker has a win, and Alex Miller has struck out four batters.

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 last Friday (Feb. 26) in its first home games of 2021, hosting a twinbill with Lindenwood. Below are brief recaps of those contests:

Game 5: LWU 11, LU 5:  The Blue Tigers took a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the second after a double by Jacqueline Marquez, a two-RBI single by Leslie Callahan and an RBI base hit by Emily Williams. Lindenwood responded with a seven-run fourth inning, however, and held on for the win in the opening game on Friday. Callahan went 3-for-3 at the plate.

Game 6: LU 1, LWU 1:  Jordan Hollon hit a home run in the second and Lindenwood got a run off a base hit in the fourth, and that was all the scoring as the game was called after six frames because of darkness. Emily Williams, Jacqueline Marquez and Jordan Lawson also had hits.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS:  Baker has played just two games in 2021, dropping decisions of 5-4 and 8-7 to Kansas Wesleyan on Feb. 26. Makayla Stromenger, Payton Reynolds and Savannah Bray each had three hits in that double-header, with Parker Straight batting in three runs. Riley Zook has two hits in three at-bats. In the circle, Baker is led by Zoe Brewer with a 2.10 ERA.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES:  Central Methodist is batting .432 as a team and has held opponents to a .163 average as UCM has won its first eight games of the year. Madison White has a .577 average and 15 hits as well as 14 runs. Madison Love is the top pitcher with 32 strikeouts and four victories in in 24.0 innings of work.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS:  McPherson, which is 3-3 on the season, is led offensively by Destiny Bacon with a .529 average, nine hits and five runs. Jenna Christensen leads the Bulldogs with six RBI. In the circle, the team has a 1.65 ERA, and Raegan Kleppe has nine strikeouts.

SCOUTING THE LIONS:  Langston is 1-9 on the year and is allowing opponents to hit .408 while posting a team batting average of .225. Gracelyn Rosales leads the team with three hits, T'Maja Oges has one of team's only RBI, and McKenzie Connor has two hits. Connor also leads the Lions with a 3.5 ERA and three strikeouts while LU's opponents post a 1.17 ERA.

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.

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 .467 average and seven hits. Williams has a double and a triple, and has batted in five runs.

HOMERIN' HOLLON:  The Blue Tigers have three home runs on the season, including two by Jordan Hollon, who was responsible for LU's run in its tie against Lindenwood. Hollon, who also has a double, is tied for the team-lead with five RBI, and is batting .267 with four hits and four runs.

ON DECK:  Lincoln opens MIAA play at home on Friday, March 12, with a 1:00 p.m. CST twinbill against Nebraska Kearney.