OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The Lincoln softball team racked up 15 hits en route to a 12-2 win over Langston in the Red Dirt Classic at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium on Saturday (March 6). The Blue Tigers also played McPherson, falling 2-0.

In Saturday's first game, a bases-loaded walk in the top of the first issued to Jordan Hollon brought in Jacqueline Marquez for LU's first run of the day. In the next at-bat, Kendra Holt hit a bases-clearing double, driving in Alivia Rymer, Jordan Lawson and Hollon for an early 4-0 lead.

The Lions brought in a pair of runs in the bottom of the third, but it was all Lincoln afterwards. A solo home run from Alex Miller in the sixth gave the Blue Tigers back a three-run lead, and Lincoln exploded for seven runs in the seventh to seal the win.

Marquez, who was an impressive 5-for-5 at the plate in the win, got the Blue Tigers going with a lead-off single, and later scored on a base hit by Emily Williams. Rymer hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Lawson, and Williams scored on a single from Hollon. Following a pitching change, Holt hit a single and Miller reached on balls to load the bases once again.

A Langston error brought in Hollon, and Leslie Callahan drove in Holt with a sacrifice fly for a 10-2 Lincoln advantage. The Blue Tigers weren't done yet, as Marquez, in her second at-bat of the inning, lined a ball into center field to plate Miller. Williams later gave Lincoln a dozen runs with her base hit that brought home Ashton Stalling.

Holt went 3-for-4 at the plate, Williams and Rymer each had two hits, and Marquez hit a triple while Lawson also had a hit. Tressa Hughes earned her first win of the season as she struck out seven while allowing just one earned run. Shannon Greene closed the game in the seventh, and also notched a strikeout.

Defensively, Holt led Lincoln with seven putouts and Marquez was responsible for six. Callahan and Marquez each turned three assists.

In the second game, McPherson scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first on a two-out, RBI base hit, and that ended up being the only offense by either team. The contest ended in the middle of the sixth, as play for the day had reached the tournament's time limit.

Marquez had a hit, and Maddie Welker struck out two McPherson batters. Marquez also had four assists while Callahan finished with two, and Callahan and Holt tied for the team-lead with three putouts apiece.

Lincoln returns home to host Nebraska Kearney on Friday (March 12) in its MIAA-opening double-header. First pitch from LU Softball Field is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CST.