FULTON, Mo. - The Lincoln softball team totaled 22 hits, including three home runs, as the Blue Tigers won both games of a double-header against Westminster in their first road games of 2024 on Tuesday (Feb. 20). LU took the first game in five innings, 13-3, and claimed the second, 10-2.

After Abbi Conrad scored on a sacrifice fly from Mackenzie Graham in the top of the first, Lincoln (4-2) got its offense in full gear in the third inning of game one, with Maris Ollison knocking the ball over the center field fence, plating Leslie Callahan in the process. Six hits by Lincoln and two errors by Westminster (0-8) in the top of the fifth led to 10 more runs coming in for the Blue Tigers. Three of those scores were courtesy of Ollison's second home run of the afternoon.

The first run in the fifth was scored by Callahan on a double by Ollison, who finished the game with seven RBI. Callahan and Conrad later scored on Ollison's home run during her second at bat of the inning. Gabby Newman hit an RBI double and later reached home, along with Madi Hampton, on single by Jamilyn Bagby deep into center. Lindsey Brandt later got on board thanks to an error, which also brought home Bagby, and scored herself on a single from Callahan.

Abby Pulliam allowed just two hits as the starter, and Paige Rademann closed the game with only one hit allowed in 2.2 innings of work. Both pitchers notched two strikeouts. Ollison went 4-for-4 with three runs and Callahan and Conrad each tallied two hits and three scores. Torri Hinnah led LU defensively with four putouts, Bagby was next with three and Newman turned two assists.

The Blue Tiger bats remained alive to start game two, as doubles from Graham and Hinnah allowed Conrad, Graham and Ollison to score for an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first. A two RBI single let the Blue Jays cut their deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the first, but those ended up being the only runs allowed by Lincoln in the night cap. LU reclaimed a two-run advantage in the top of the second, with Callahan scoring after Hinnah was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Conrad hit Lincoln's third home run of the day in the top of fourth, allowing Callahan to also score, and Conrad later plated Callahan once again on a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning. In the seventh inning, Taylor Heimbaugh hit a double before scoring on a triple from Emma Rakes that also drove in Brooklyn Smith. Rakes would later account for the final run of the contest, as she reached the plate on a passed ball.

Callahan, Conrad and Hinnah each finished with two hits apiece. Ollison had one and twice reached on walks. Conrad and Hinnah each recorded three RBI and Rakes had two. Mallorey Rogers got the win and struck out a batter in a relief role while Maddie Sechrest and Joss Marriott also pitched. Hinnah led Lincoln defensively with 11 putouts, and Brandt, Conrad and Emily Thompson each finished with two apiece. Newman, Ollison, Marriott and Rogers were each credited with two assists.

Lincoln heads to Evansville, Ill. this weekend to play in four games as part of the Blue Bridge Battle. The Blue Tigers play Kentucky Wesleyan at 12:00 p.m. CST and Cedarville at 2:00 p.m. CST on Friday (Feb. 23). On Saturday (Feb. 24), the Blue Tigers face Notre Dame (Ohio) at 10:00 a.m. CST and take on McKendree at 12:00 p.m. CST.