JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Lincoln softball team hosted Missouri Southern in its annual Senior Day double-header on Saturday (April 17). The Lions scored late to beat the Blue Tigers, 12-4, in the opener, and held on for a 5-0 win in the second game.

The softball team had a special postgame ceremony to honor its three graduating players: Shannon Greene, Kendra Holt and Jordan Lawson. The team also celebrated Mykenzie Livesay, a four-year Blue Tiger who has served as a graduate assistant this season.

In the opener, a three-run homer allowed Missouri Southern (19-12-1, 10-5-1 MIAA) to take a 4-0 lead after the top of the first, but the Blue Tigers closed the gap in the bottom half of the inning. Leslie Callahan opened the inning with a double, and Lawson followed with a base hit before a double from Jacqueline Marquez drove home both players. Marquez scored herself on a base hit by Jordan Hollon to cut the deficit down to 4-3.

Neither team scored again until the fifth inning, when MSSU brought in a run on a passed ball. In the seventh inning, however, Missouri Southern scored seven runs on four hits and three errors to take command of the contest. Lincoln (6-27-1, 3-17 MIAA) got back on the board in the bottom of the seventh, as Alex Miller led the frame off with a home run, but the Lions held off the Blue Tiger rally.

Ashton Stalling also had a hit for LU, and Maddie Welker rang up three strikeouts in the circle. Holt made seven putouts, followed by Hollon and Marquez with four apiece. Hollon also had two assists.

In the second game, Missouri Southern plated one run in each of the second and third frames, and tacked on three more scores in the fifth. Miller had a pair of hits in the night cap, while Lawson and Emily Williams each had one hit apiece. Lincoln found other ways to get on base, however, but had eight runners stranded throughout the course of the ballgame.

Tressa Hughes and Greene each pitched in the late game, and Holt had seven putouts while Lawson was next with six. Marquez turned three assists, and Callahan had two.

Lincoln remains at LU Softball Field on Sunday (April 18) to host Pittsburg State in a 12:00 p.m. CDT double-header.