Complete Game Notes
Games #13-14: Christian Brothers (7-9) at Lincoln (6-6, 0-0 MIAA)
Date:  Tuesday, March 5 at 2:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m. CT
Site: LU Softball Field (Jefferson City, Mo.)

Games #15-16: Lincoln at Missouri Southern (13-4, 0-0 MIAA)
Date:  Friday, March 8 at 2:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m. CT
Live Stats: https://mssulions.com/sidearmstats/softball
Live Video: https://themiaanetwork.com/lubluetigers
Site: Pat Lipira Softball Complex (Joplin, Mo.)

Games #17-18: Lincoln at Pittsburg State (16-2, 0-0 MIAA)
Date:  Saturday, March 9 at 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. CT
Live Stats: https://pittstategorillas.com/sidearmstats/softball
Live Video: https://themiaanetwork.com/lubluetigers
Site: PSU Softball Complex (Pittsburg, Kan.)

THE LEAD OFF:  The Lincoln softball team plays six games next week, including beginning MIAA play with four road games over the weekend. On Tuesday (March 5), Lincoln will host Christian Brothers University at LU Softball Field in a 2:00 p.m. CST double-header. Then, on Friday (March 8), the Blue Tigers travel to Joplin, Mo. to take on Missouri Southern in a 2:00 p.m. CST twinbill. LU closes the week in Pittsburg, Kan. on Saturday (March 9), where Lincoln will play two games against Pittsburg State beginning at 1:00 p.m. CST. The Blue Tigers swept a double-header over Southwest Baptist on Wednesday (Feb. 28) to improve to 6-6 in 2024. Christian Brothers is 7-9 overall, Missouri Southern enters the week 13-4, and Pittsburg State is 16-2; all records are as of March 1.

PREVIEWING THE BLUE TIGERS:  Maris Ollison is off to a huge offensive start, tallying 13 hits, including three home runs, and has 15 RBI and seven runs through the first 12 games. Abbi Conrad leads Lincoln with 16 hits and 15 runs while Leslie Callahan has scored 12 runs on 12 hits. Gabby Newman and Mackenzie Graham each have 10 hits. Mallorey Rogers leads LU's pitchers with 16 strikouts and Paige Rademann has two wins.

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.

LAST TIME OUT:  A brief review of Lincoln's recent games:

Game 7: KWC 14, LU 13:  Kentucky Wesleyan scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to eke out a 14-13 win over Lincoln in the first game of the Blue Bridge Battle in Evansville, Ind. on Feb. 23. Abbi Conrad led the Blue Tigers with three hits and four runs and Mackenzie Graham had four RBI. Gabby Newman, who had two hits, and Torri Hinnah and Maris Ollison each batted in two runs.

Game 8: CU 6, LU 4:  Doubles by Lindsey Brandt and Abbi Conrad in the seventh inning helped LU pull within two, but Cedarville held on to beat the Blue Tigers 6-4 at the Blue Bridge Battle on Feb. 23. Brandt, Conrad and Mackenzie Graham each had two hits.

Game 9: NDC 9, LU 3:  Notre Dame (Ohio) built an early 3-1 lead and held on for a 9-3 win over the Blue Tigers at the Blue Bridge Battle on Feb. 24 in Evansville, Ind. Maris Ollison had two RBI and Leslie Callahan scored two runs on two hits.

Game 10: MCK 8, LU 2:  McKendree used 10 hits to beat the Blue Tigers, 8-2, in the final game of the Blue Bridge Battle on Feb. 24. Taylor Heimbaugh led LU with two hits.

Game 11: LU 8, SBU 6:  It took nine innings, but Lincoln scored a pair of runs late to earn an 8-6 win over Southwest Baptist in Bolivar, Mo. on Feb. 28. Mallorey Rogers struck out six batters and five different Blue Tigers had two hits each as LU had 12 hits and zero errors.

Game 12: LU 6, SBU 1:  The Blue Tigers scored three runs in the second inning and never looked back as Lincoln beat Southwest Baptist, 6-1, for a double-header sweep on Feb. 28. Lindsey Brandt had two RBI on two hits, Maris Ollison also had two RBI and Lincoln took advantage of four SBU errors. Paige Rademann allowed just four hits in a complete game effort in the circle.

SCOUTING THE BUCCANEERS:  Mackenzie Bakel, who is batting .404, is tied for the team-lead in hits with Summer Alexander, as each have 19 on the season. Kiera Coulon has scored 18 runs on 16 hits for Christian Brothers while Riley Simpson has 13 RBI. Emily Schooler and Gabby Dickerson each have three wins in the circle while Haylee Alberson is 1-0.

SCOUTING THE LIONS:  Both Kylee Jacks and Adrianna Young have 16 hits with Jacks scoring 18 runs for a Missouri Southern program that is batting .312 as a team. Emily Perry and Carsen Tinkler each have 15 hits and Perry, who has hit three home runs, leads the team with 15 RBI. MSSU has a pair of quality starting pitchers in Avery Tallman, who is 4-0 with a 1.62 ERA, and Kiki Pickens, who is 5-2 with 53 strikeouts.

SCOUTING THE GORILLAS:  In just 18 games, Heather Arnett already has 41 hits and 29 runs as Pittsburg State is batting .358 as a team. Hannah Burnett (23 hits, 22 runs) and Courtney Storey (20 hits) are next on the offensive list while Maddie Fernandez and Paxtyn Hayes each have 17 RBI. PSU has a team ERA of 2.17, with Ava Laurent owning a 5-0 record in the circle.

BREAK OUT THE BROOMS:  All six of LU's wins this year have been double-header sweeps. Four of those victories have come on the road, as LU swept Westminster and Southwest Baptist.

ON DECK:  Lincoln plays double-headers on the road at William Jewell on March 12 and at home against Minnesota State-Moorhead on March 13.