JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Lincoln softball team won its final home game of 2023, beating Southwest Baptist, 3-2, on Wednesday afternoon (April 26). The win came in the second game of the non-conference double-header, with Southwest Baptist winning the opener, 8-0.

The Blue Tigers scored the first two runs of the second game, starting with Maris Ollison hitting the first out-of-the-park homerun at the newly renovated LU Softball Field to lead off the bottom of the second. Kennedy Schanuth scored the second run, getting on base via an error before reaching third on a sacrifice bunt from Hailey Dudenhoeffer. Schanuth then made it a 2-0 lead for the Blue Tigers by scoring on Leah Wagner's single through the right side.

Southwest Baptist (11-35) answered in the top of the third, scoring its first run on a ground-rule double and its second on a base hit into centerfield. The game would stay deadlocked until the bottom of the fifth, when Qwynn Marquez came home on a bases-loaded walk. Lincoln (7-37) made multiple outstanding defensive plays to preserve the win, including all three outs in the top of the seventh. Shortstop Myah Dwyer made a pair of fantastic grabs, including a diving catch for the final out of the ballgame. First baseman Emma Rakes also caught a very hard-hit line drive, holding onto the softball while falling to the ground.

Ashton Stalling pitched the complete game, striking out four while allowing seven hits. Ollison went 2-for-2 at the plate and Schanuth also had a hit. Wagner had a team-high five putouts, followed by Dwyer with four.

In the first game, Southwest Baptist scored in each inning except the fourth, and held the Blue Tigers to just two hits. Wagner hit a double in the bottom of the third, and Ollison had a single in the fourth. 

Jordan Galliher opened game two in the circle and struck out three Bearcat batters. Joss Marriott came in as the closer and also notched a strikeout. Wagner finished with six putouts to lead the defense.

Lincoln will travel to St. Joseph, Mo. on Friday (April 28) to play an MIAA double-header against Missouri Western. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CDT.