ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The Lincoln softball team had the early lead, but Missouri Western rallied to edge the Blue Tigers, 3-2, in the second game of an MIAA double-header on Friday (April 28). MWSU also took the opener, 13-0.

The Blue Tigers held the Griffons at bay for the first couple innings of game two, stranding MWSU base-runners in each of the first two frames, including holding a runner on third during the first inning. In the top of the third, Ashton Stalling took advantage of several Missouri Western (33-18, 12-12 MIAA) miscues to give Lincoln (7-39, 2-22 MIAA) an early 1-0 lead. Stalling reached on a throwing error, took second on a wild pitch, and then came home on another MWSU error.

Missouri Western answered in the bottom of the third, scoring on a ground out following hitting a triple. MWSU took the lead on an RBI single in the fourth, though Lincoln prevented any further runs from scoring by forcing a ground out to strand three Griffons on base. Missouri Western's third run came in the fifth inning.

Lincoln cut the deficit down to one in the top of the seventh, as Maris Ollison doubled and later scored on a wild pitch. Leslie Callahan was the only other LU player with a hit, however, as Missouri Western finished with a 7-2 advantage in that statistic. 

Emma Rakes led Lincoln with 10 putouts while Emily Williams and Leah Wagner finished with two apiece. Myah Dwyer turned a team-high four assists, followed by Callahan and Ollison with two apiece. Jordan Galliher pitched the complete game, striking out two Griffon batters while also tallying an assist.

Lincoln turned a double play to keep MWSU off the board in the bottom of the first inning in game one, but Missouri Western finished the contest with 15 hits and took control of the ballgame with six runs in the bottom of the second. Callahan led the game off with a single and Dwyer hit a double in the top of the second. Dwyer later stole third, but a strikeout ended LU's scoring threat.

Maddie Welker struck out two Griffon batters as Lincoln's reliever. Wagner and Rakes led the Blue Tiger defense with three putouts apiece and Dwyer finished with two assists.

Lincoln will close its 2023 campaign on Saturday (April 29) by traveling to Maryville, Mo. to play Northwest Missouri in a 12:00 p.m. CDT double-header.