TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - Jordan Hollon hit a homerun to tie the game in the seventh inning, but Northeastern State eked out a run in the ninth to edge the Lincoln softball team, 5-4, in the second game of a double-header on Saturday (April 2). The RiverHawks also ended up winning the first contest, 8-0.

In the late game, Alivia Rymer drove in Emma Rakes in the top of the first for an early 1-0 LU lead. Rakes led the contest off with a single, and a two-out double by Rymer brought her home. The Blue Tigers kept the RiverHawks off the board in the first inning, but NSU tied the game by opening the second frame with a solo homerun before taking a 2-1 lead on a fielder's choice.

The contest remained a one-run affair until the top of the fifth, when a double into left centerfield by Leslie Callahan drove in both Rakes and Hollon to put the Blue Tigers back on top. Northeastern State (19-16, 7-3 MIAA) would go on to the tie game in the bottom half of the frame on a sacrifice fly.

NSU used a double of its own to take back the lead in the bottom of the sixth, but Hollon knocked one out of the park in the top of the seventh, and then stranded a RiverHawk batter on third to send the game into extras. In the eighth inning, Aidan Dayberry ended up advancing to third base, but a line out prevented her from reaching the plate.

Lincoln (11-20, 0-12 MIAA) held NSU off the board in the bottom of the eighth, but couldn't get its offense going in the top of the ninth. Northeastern State, meanwhile, led the ninth frame off with a base hit, and eventually scored the game-winning run on another sacrifice fly. Jordan Galliher opened the contest in the circle and struck out four RiverHawk batters before yielding to Ashton Stalling, who did not give up an earned run.

Emily Williams also had a hit in the second game, and Callahan had a team-high seven putouts while Chloe Olson was next with five. Hollon turned three assists, Leah Wagner posted two and Galliher, Stalling, Rymer and Callahan all had one apiece.

In the first game of the afternoon, Northeastern State took advantage of a huge first inning to pull away for the victory. The RiverHawks brought in six runs in their first offensive frame, and added another run in each of the second and fourth frames. Kori Bullard, Alex Miller and Rakes each had hits, and Hannah Clark fanned three in a relief role.

Defensively, Rymer had five putouts to lead the Blue Tigers while Rakes and Wagner each finished with three. Hollon and Qwynn Marquez each had a pair of assists.

Lincoln remains on the road to continue MIAA play on Tuesday (April 5) with a visit to Warrensburg, Mo. to play Central Missouri in a 3:00 p.m. CDT double-header.