Complete Game Notes
Games #29-30: Emporia State (14-14, 4-6 MIAA) at Lincoln (5-22-1, 2-12 MIAA)
Date:  Saturday, April 10 at 12:00 p.m. & 2:00 p.m. CT
Site: Trusler Sports Complex in Emporia, Kan.
Live Stats: https://esuhornets.com/sidearmstats/softball/
 
THE LEAD OFF:  The Lincoln softball team returns to the field on Saturday (April 10) as the Blue Tigers travel to Emporia, Kan. to play Emporia State. First pitch of the twinbill is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. CDT as Lincoln takes on a Lady Hornet squad that is 14-14 overall and 4-6 in the MIAA. The Blue Tigers are 5-22-1 on the season and 2-12 in league play after knocking off a Rogers State team that was ranked No. 21 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's Division II poll last Friday (April 2). These will be the only games of the weekend for Lincoln, as LU's double-header at Washburn, originally scheduled for Friday before being moved to Sunday, is postponed to April 20 due to COVID-19 concerns.
 
PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  Emily Williams owns a .314 batting average with 22 hits on the season, and Jacqueline Marquez leads Lincoln with 23 hits while batting .303. Jordan Hollon has 14 RBI on 14 hits with three homeruns, and has 11 runs while Jordan Lawson leads LU with 13 and Leslie Callahan is next with 10. Kendra Holt, who has hit nine doubles, has tallied 10 RBI and 17 hits. In the circle, Tressa Hughes has struck out 39 batters and has two wins, and Maddie Welker has two victories and a save.
 
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:  The Blue Tigers played six-straight home games, taking on MIAA opponents Rogers State and Northeastern State before facing Missouri S&T in a non-league twinbill. Below are brief recaps of those contests:
 
Game 23: RSU 5, LU 0:  Tressa Hughes struck out six Rogers State batters and allowed only five hits, but the Hillcats beat the Blue Tigers, 5-0, in the first game of a double-header on Friday (April 2). Emily Williams and Jacqueline Marquez had hits for Lincoln.
 
Game 24: LU 2, RSU 1:  Emily Williams drove in Alex Miller on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the eighth to give Lincoln a 2-1 win over Rogers State, which was ranked No. 21 in the country by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, last Friday. Ashton Stalling pitched the complete game and gave up just three hits while notching two strikeouts. Kendra Holt, Jacqueline Marquez and Jordan Lawson each had hits, with Marquez bringing home Lawson with a triple in the first.
 
Game 25: NSU 8, LU 0:  Lincoln held Northeastern State to only six hits, but the RiverHawks scored four runs in the fourth to beat the Blue Tigers in the opener on Saturday (April 3). Alivia Rymer and Alex Miller each had hits, and Maddie Welker fanned two in the circle.
 
Game 26: NSU 8, LU 4:  Lincoln took a 4-2 lead in the second inning, but the RiverHawks plated three runs in each of the final two frames to earn the sweep on Saturday. Tressa Hughes rang up 11 strikeouts as LU's starting pitcher, and both Emily Williams and Leslie Callahan had two hits. Jordan Lawson and Kendra Holt also had hits for LU.
 
Game 27: LU 6, MST 4:  Lincoln took a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the second and held off the Miners for a victory in the opener on Tuesday afternoon (April 6). Leslie Callahan drove in two runs with a triple, and later brought in Alex Miller with a bunt for her third RBI of the day. Miller joined Callahan and Jordan Lawson with two hits in the game, and Miller also batted in two runs.
 
Game 28: MST 5, LU 2:  The Blue Tigers tied the game on a two-run double by Jordan Hollon, but Missouri S&T scored on a fielder's choice in the top of the sixth, then added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh to get the split on Tuesday. Alex Miller pitched the entire game and struck out two Miner batters, and Jacqueline Marquez also had a hit.
 
SCOUTING THE LADY HORNETS:  Emporia State has a 4.06 team ERA, with Kelsey Phillips leading the team with a 2.50 ERA and seven wins. Josie Harrison is 4-3 in the circle while both Kerrigan Dixon and Sydney Righi also having earned at least one victory. Offensively, Roni Raines leads Emporia State with a .391 average, 27 hits and 15 RBI.
 
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 .314 average and has 22 hits. Williams has 13 RBI and has hit four doubles and a triple.
 
TOP-25 VICTORY:  With an eight-inning, 2-1 win over Rogers State, Lincoln earned its first victory over a national top-25 team since 2016. LU held Rogers State, then ranked No. 21 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's DII poll, to just three hits. LU's last win over a top-25 team came against No. 16 Northwest Missouri.
 
ON DECK:  Lincoln continues MIAA play next Tuesday (April 13) in Maryville, Mo. with a twinbill against Northwest Missouri at 2:00 p.m. CDT.