JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the eighth, Emily Williams delivered the game-winning RBI to give the Lincoln softball team a 2-1 victory over Rogers State, the No. 21 team in the country according to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's Division II poll, in the second game of an MIAA double-header on Friday (April 2). It gave LU a split with the nationally-ranked Hillcats, as RSU had previously won the early game, 5-0.

The victory was the first for the Blue Tigers over a national top-25 opponent since March 25, 2016, when Lincoln beat No. 16 Northwest Missouri, 3-2, in Jefferson City.

Ashton Stalling earned the win for LU with a stellar complete-game effort, as she allowed just three hits and the one run while tallying two strikeouts and just one walk. In five of the game's eight innings, Stalling retired the side while facing just three batters. In the final five innings of the contest, Stalling allowed just one hit.

After forcing a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the eighth, Alex Miller got on board with a lead-off walk, and took second on a ground out. A passed ball allowed Miller to take third, and Leslie Callahan and Jordan Lawson were each issued walks to load the bases. That brought up Williams, who hit a quick-moving ground ball towards RSU's shortstop. The Hillcats got the out at first and tried to turn a double play, but Lawson was too fast, as she safely arrived at second while Miller headed home.

Lincoln (4-19-1, 2-10 MIAA) opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, as Lawson singled down the left field line before scoring on a triple by Jacqueline Marquez. Rogers State (17-9, 6-4 MIAA) answered in the top of the third, turning a lead-off single into the tying run on a base hit through the middle. The teams played scoreless softball until reaching extra innings, with the only other hit by Lincoln coming from Kendra Holt in LU's first at-bat of the fifth inning.

Holt had 13 putouts to lead the Lincoln defense, while Miller, Callahan and Jordan Hollon recorded three apiece. Hollon finished with five assists and Alivia Rymer turned four while Stalling and Callahan each had two.

The Blue Tigers received excellent pitching in the first game as well, as Tressa Hughes allowed only five hits while striking out six as the contest's starter. Rogers State had some stellar pitching of its own, however, holding LU to just two hits. RSU scored its first two runs on a double in the second, and added insurance runs in the third, fifth and sixth frames. Williams and Marquez had the hits for Lincoln, while Hollon also got on base.

Holt had nine putouts and Marquez had six, as well as an assist, to lead the Blue Tiger defense. Hollon finished with two putouts and three assists, and Rymer contributed three assists while Hughes and Maddie Welker each had one.

Lincoln will be back at LU Softball Field on Saturday (April 3), as the Blue Tigers host Northeastern State in a noon double-header.