EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The Lincoln softball team led by one entering the bottom of the seventh, but Kentucky Wesleyan drove in a pair of unearned runs to beat the Blue Tigers, 14-13, on Friday (Feb. 23) in LU's first game of the Blue Bridge Battle.

After scoring 23 runs in a sweep of Westminster on Tuesday (Feb. 20), the Blue Tiger offense remained hot early, plating five runs in the top of the fifth. Maris Ollison brought home both Abbi Conrad and Leslie Callahan on a sacrifice fly, and a double from Gabby Newman allowed Mackenzie Graham to score. Newman would later come home herself on a wild pitch while Lindsey Brandt had an RBI single to drive in Jamilyn Bagby for a big early lead.

The Panthers scored a pair of runs on wild pitches in the bottom of the first before pulling to within two on an RBI double, but the Blue Tigers extended their lead back to three when Conrad came home on a ground out from Graham. KWC found its answer in the bottom of the second, however, scoring one run on a double steal and two more on back-to-back hits. 

After neither team made it onto the scoreboard in the third inning, Lincoln (4-3) broke the tie in the fourth by scoring three runs on three hits and an error. Conrad opened the frame with a double, Ollison moved her to third on an infield single and a ground out by Graham gave LU back the advantage. Torri Hinnah and Newman also batted in runs, with Hinnah and Ollison scoring to make it a 9-6 contest. In the bottom of the fourth, though, Kentucky Wesleyan (4-3) exploded for six runs on four hits to take its first lead of the day.

The score remained 12-9 heading into the seventh, but a pair of fielding errors led to a two-out rally by the Blue Tigers. Emma Rakes scored on the second error before Graham's base hit through the middle brought in both Conrad and Callahan, knotting the score at 12 in the process. In the next at bat, Hinnah hit into a fielder's choice that allowed Vanessa Cardenas to score, giving LU a one-run advantage.

Lincoln managed to get two of the first three Panther batters in the bottom of the seventh out, but a throwing error and a triple helped KWC tie the game at 13-13. Kentucky Wesleyan ended up getting another base hit to drive in the game-winning run. Abby Pulliam ended up getting the loss in the circle despite pitching well for 3.2 innings in which she struck out four batters and did not allow an earned run. Kasey Kilburn and Jaedin Blankenship also each struck out batters.

Graham finished with four RBI on two hits, Conrad scored four runs while tallying three hits and Callahan scored twice. Hinnah and Newman each finished with two RBI while Newman and Brandt both had a pair of hits. Emily Thompson had six putouts to lead the LU defense, Hinnah recorded five and Cardenas tallied three. Ollison and Pulliam each turned two assists.