JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Lincoln softball team shut out Minnesota State Moorhead, 4-0, in the second game of a mid-week double-header on Wednesday afternoon (March 13). The Blue Tigers played the Dragons tough in the opener but dropped a 7-6 decision.

Paige Rademann struck out three MSUM batters and allowed only three hits to get the win in the night cap as the Blue Tigers took advantage of seven hits and some timely base-running to improve to 8-14 on the season. After the first two innings were scoreless, Abbi Conrad and Mackenzie Graham opened the bottom of the third with back-to-back singles. Torri Hinnah hit the ball deep down the middle, and the ensuing throw allowed Conrad to score. A passed ball brought in Graham, and then Kierra O'Rourke plated Hinnah on a sacrifice fly.

Lincoln turned a double play to keep Minnesota State Moorhead (9-7) off the board in the fourth, but the Dragons loaded the bases in the top of the fifth inning. Rademann struck out the fourth batter and Conrad caught a foul ball for the second out. All three of those base runners ended up stranded when Graham caught a line drive into right field for the final out of the inning.

After a lightning delay that lasted nearly 50 minutes midway through the sixth, LU got on the score board one more time when Lindsey Brandt reached home while Leslie Callahan was caught in a rundown. MSUM got its lead-off hitter to third in the top of the seventh, but a ground out to third sealed the shutout victory for the Blue Tigers.

Graham had two hits in the win while Callahan, Conrad, Gabby Newman, Hinnah and O'Rourke each had one apiece. Madi Hampton stole a base and Hinnah had a team-high eight putouts while Conrad finished with four and Newman and O'Rourke each provided three. Ella Percival had four assists, Conrad finished with three, Newman added two and Rademann had one.

In the opener, the game was scoreless until the top of the fourth, when back-to-back doubles gave the Dragons an early 1-0 advantage. MSUM added two more scores in that inning, but Lincoln cut the deficit down to two when Hampton scored on a base hit by Hinnah. A double steal pushed the lead back up to three for the Dragons in the fifth inning and three runs scored on two doubles led to MSUM owning a 7-1 advantage entering the bottom of the seventh.

Brandt was issued a walk, Josie Stewart hit an infield single and Callahan reached base on balls to load the bags with only one out. Conrad drove in Brandt with a solid hit into center field and a fielder's choice led to Percival scoring. Newman cut the deficit down to one with a three-run blast over the left field wall, but the Dragons managed to end the LU rally with a fly out.

Mallorey Rogers struck out a batter as the game's opener and Percival, Conrad and Newman each finished with three assists. Hinnah had seven putouts while Brandt was next with five. 

Lincoln will return to conference play next Tuesday (March 19) as the Blue Tigers head to Warrensburg, Mo. to play Central Missouri in a 3:00 p.m. CDT twinbill.