Complete Game Notes
Games #1-2: William Jewell (1-3) at Lincoln (0-0)
Date: Tuesday, February 13 at 12:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m. CST
Live Stats:  https://lubluetigers.com/sidearmstats/softball/
Live Video:  https://themiaanetwork.com/lubluetigers/
Site: LU Softball Field (Jefferson City, Mo.)

Games #3-4: Stephens (0-3) at Lincoln
Date:  Friday, February 16 at 12:00 p.m. & 2:00 p.m. CST
Live Stats:  https://lubluetigers.com/sidearmstats/softball/
Live Video:  https://themiaanetwork.com/lubluetigers/
Site: LU Softball Field (Jefferson City, Mo.)

THE LEAD OFF:  The Lincoln softball team opens its 2024 campaign at home this week by hosting a pair of non-MIAA double-headers. The new-look Blue Tigers, led by head coach Jason Ollison and featuring 26 new players, takes the field for the first time this year on Tuesday (Feb. 13), as Lincoln hosts William Jewell in a double-header. The first game is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. CST while the second will begin at approximately 2:30 p.m. CST. These first games in Lincoln's final season as a member of the MIAA will be played against a team from the GLVC, the conference to which the Blue Tigers are moving in 2024-25. The Blue Tigers will remain at home on Friday (Feb. 16) to host a twinbill against Stephens. The first game of that double-header is set to start at 12:00 p.m. CST, with the second beginning approximately at 2:00 p.m. CST. Both opponents this week have already played games in 2024, with William Jewell playing four games in the Alvy Early Classic last weekend (Feb. 9-10). The Cardinals fell to Southeastern Oklahoma State, 5-4, and to Newman, 3-1. WJC shut out East Central, 3-0, for its first win of the year, but dropped a 9-5 contest against Emporia State. Stephens, meanwhile, dropped each of its first three games of the season. The Stars lost a hard-fought game against Central Christian, 6-4, and fell in back-to-back games against Texas A&M-Texarkana by scores of 9-2 and 4-0.

PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  The Blue Tigers had one of its biggest recruiting classes in history, with LU's 30-player team consisting of four returners and a total combination of 26 freshmen and transfer players. Last season, Leslie Callahan was named second team All-MIAA after leading LU in hits (39), runs (16), doubles (10), stolen bases (15) and triples (two). Maris Ollison is back after tallying a team-high 16 RBI in 2023 while Emma Rakes (13 runs on 21 hits) and Joss Marriott (who struck out 19 opposing batters) are the other veterans.

HEAD COACH JASON OLLISON:  A 2000 grad of Lincoln University and an All-MIAA baseball player with the Blue Tigers, Jason Ollison in now in his second year as the head coach of the Lincoln softball team. In his first season, Ollison guided the Blue Tigers as they transitioned from playing games an off-campus site to playing on a brand new surface at LU Softball Field. Ollison is his second stint working at LU, as he served as the baseball team's hitting coach in 2001-02.

SCOUTING THE CARDINALS:  Sabrina Olmo is batting .400 through three games while Amanda Chung and Sophia Lopez are each .375 hitters for William Jewell. Chung leads WJC with three runs while Lopez has a team-high six RBI. In the circle, Avrey Reynolds has pitched 11.0 innings and has struck out five opposing batters while going 1-1. Sydney Parra is WJC's other main pitcher.

SCOUTING THE STARS:  Avery Throckmorton and Gillian Hale each have three hits on the year while four other Stephens players each have two apiece. The Stars have scored six runs but have allowed 19, and SC is batting .222 on the season compared to .373 by its opponents. Grace Tath has struck out a team-high seven batters and Jordan Watkins has a team-leading 2.33 ERA.

BATTLE FOR THE BRIDGE:  Lincoln heads to Evansville, Ind. to play in the Blue Bridge Battle on Feb. 23-24. Currently the only classic of the year for the Blue Tigers, the Blue Bridge Battle will pit LU against Kentucky Wesleyan, Notre Dame (Ohio), Cedarville and McKendree, the last of which is a future league rival for LU.

NATIONAL NOTES:  The Blue Tigers excelled at turning turning double plays in 2023, rating fourth in the MIAA in both total double plays (18) and double plays per game (0.38). Nationally, LU was 39th in double player per game and 44th in total double plays. Individually, returner Leslie Callahan finished 14th in the MIAA and 256th in the country in stolen bases (15).

HOME SWEET HOME:  After spending most of the past seasons playing off campus, Lincoln will get to play all of its home games in 2024 at LU Softball Field, which finished major renovations midway through last season. Lincoln played just six games on campus in 2023, but won its first game on the new turf 5-3 over Nebraska Kearney and its last home game of the season, 3-2, over Southwest Baptist.

HOMER SWEET HOMER:  The first home run hit out of the park at the new-and-improved LU Softball Field was hit by Maris Ollison. The solo shot helped LU win its final home game in 2023, 3-2, over Southwest Baptist.

JOIN THE CLUB:  The Blue Tiger Athletics Club is a great way to engage with other LU fans while supporting Lincoln student-athletes. Every dollar raised by the club goes towards scholarships, improving facilities and purchasing equipment. To join the BTAC, or to learn more, please visit www.LUBlueTigers.com/BTAC.

WATCH LIVE:  Fans who are unable to attend a game in person will still be able to cheer on the Blue Tigers to victory via The MIAA Network. All of Lincoln's home games against MIAA teams as well as most of the non-conference games at LU Softball Field will be broadcast at www.TheMIAANetwork.com/LUBlueTigers. James Stanley, the voice of the Blue Tigers, will call most of the home games. Road games vs. MIAA opponents will also be on that same link.

GEAR UP FOR THE GAME:  Lincoln fans can get everything they need for the game at www.BlueTigersStore.com, the official online store for LU athletics. Everything from jerseys to office supplies can be found on the site, with a portion of all sales going to benefit Lincoln athletics.

ON DECK:  The Blue Tigers play a twinbill in Fulton, Mo. against Westminster on Tuesday (Feb. 20) at 2:00 p.m. CST.