JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Lincoln softball team led early, 2-0, but a late rally helped Emporia State win in the second game of a double-header on Saturday (March 26). The Hornets took the second game, 7-2, and won the first, 8-3.

In the night cap, Emma Rakes reached on a walk before scoring on a fielding error in the bottom of the first to give LU the early lead. The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the third, as Leslie Callahan was issued a walk and stole second before scoring on a base hit by Chloe Olson.

The Hornets scored a pair of unearned runs in the fourth, as a throwing error followed by a sacrifice fly ended up tying the game at two. Rakes and Callahan each had hits in the bottom half of the frame as LU loaded the bases, but a line out following an ESU pitching change kept the game at 2-2.

Both teams went down in order in the fifth inning, but Emporia State (14-16, 3-3 MIAA) took its first lead of the ballgame in the sixth on a three-run homer. Another error allowed ESU to tack on two more runs in the top of the seventh. In the bottom of the frame, LU managed to get two players on base with just one out, but that was as close as the Blue Tigers would get, as a fly out and a strikeout ended the contest.

Callahan led Lincoln (11-14, 0-8 MIAA) with two hits and Leah Wagner had one while Jordan Galliher struck out four in the circle. Katie Blair finished with a team-high five putouts, and Olson and Wagner were next with four apiece. Jordan Hollon added four assists, and Galliher turned three.

In the opener, both teams scored runs in the second inning, with Emporia State striking first on a sacrifice fly. In the bottom of the inning, Wagner hit an infield single, then scored after a pair of ESU errors to tie the game. Lincoln went on to load the bases in the second inning, but a pair of strikeouts ended the threat.

Emporia State took the lead back in the third inning, plating three runs on three hits and an error. The Hornets would eventually build their lead to 8-1 before Lincoln got back on the board with a solo home run by Alivia Rymer in the bottom of the fifth. Rymer scored again in the seventh inning on a bases-loaded walk.

Olson had an RBI while Rakes, Callahan, Wagner, Rymer, Kori Bullard and Emily Williams each had a hit. Alex Miller struck out four ESU batters in a relief role, and Hollon, Rymer and Callahan each tallied two assists. Olson posted a team-high eight putouts, and Rakes and Callahan each recorded three.

Lincoln will be back in action on Tuesday (March 29), as the Blue Tigers travel to Rolla, Mo. to play Missouri S&T in a 1:00 p.m. CDT double-header.