TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - The Lincoln softball team picked up its first road MIAA victory of the season on Friday (March 29), beating Northeastern State, 7-6, in nine innings. The two teams split Friday's double-header, with the RiverHawks taking the first game, 1-0.

Kasey Kilburn improved to 3-0 on the season with the win in the night cap, as she retired the NSU side in order in both the eighth and ninth frames, including tallying strikeouts for the final two outs of the evening. Abby Pulliam had a pair of strikeouts as LU's opener while Mallorey Rogers and Joss Marriott also pitched in the late game.

An error allowed the RiverHawks to score the tying run in the bottom of the seventh, and the Blue Tigers moved a runner into scoring position in the top of the eighth, as Madi Hampton was issued a walk before taking second on a fly out. Hampton ended up stranded, but LU pushed a run across the plate in the ninth inning when Gabby Newman led the frame off with a solo home run.

Maris Ollison scored Lincoln's first run of the day on a wild pitch in the top of the second, and a double steal allowed Kierra O'Rourke to reach the plate and Taylor Heimbaugh to advance to second. An infield single from Hampton moved Heimbaugh to third and Vanessa Cardenas drove her in on a ground out to make it a 3-0 lead for the Blue Tigers. Hampton stole second before the inning ended, one of eight successful steal attempts for LU in the victory.

A fielder's choice in the top of the third brought in Newman for a 4-0 Blue Tiger lead, and Northeastern State (6-23, 1-11 MIAA) only sent three batters to the plate in the third inning thanks to a double play turned by Lincoln (10-20, 2-10 MIAA). The RiverHawks did not get on the board until the bottom of the fourth when a bases-clearing triple allowed NSU to score two unearned runs. 

Abbi Conrad led the fifth inning off with a double and scored after back-to-back base hits from Ollison and O'Rourke. Another double steal sent Ollison home, giving Lincoln a 6-2 advantage. The RiverHawks pulled to within one in the bottom of the fifth, however, scoring three runs on a two-out homer. LU would maintain its one-run advantage until the bottom of the seventh, when an error allowed NSU to tie the game.

Conrad had two hits in the second contest, O'Rourke stole two bases and Ella Percival also had a steal. Cardenas led the Blue Tigers with six putouts while Jamilyn Bagby and Conrad finished with five apiece. Conrad also supplied three assists while Pulliam provided two.

The first game of the day was a pitcher's duel, with the only run of the contest coming in the bottom of the seventh, as the RiverHawks won the game by bringing in a runner after an LU error. Paige Rademann pitched the complete game for the Blue Tigers, allowed no earned runs and struck out two RiverHawk batters.

Lincoln had its chances to get on the scoreboard, beginning in the first inning, when Leslie Callahan singled through the middle before advancing to third on a base hit from Conrad. Hampton was issued a walk, loading the bases for the Blue Tigers, but a strikeout and a foul out ended the threat. O'Rourke took second in the top of the second after being hit by a pitch, Ollison had a hit in the top of the third and Conrad led the sixth inning off with a base hit into center field. Lincoln also had a runner in the seventh inning as Lindsey Brandt reached on a Northeastern State error.

Torri Hinnah had nine putouts to lead the Lincoln defense while Callahan, Mackenzie Graham and Emily Thompson each finished with two apiece. Conrad turned five assists and Newman was next with four.

The Blue Tigers head to Claremore, Okla. on Saturday (March 30) to play Rogers State, the No. 3 team in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II poll, in a 12:00 p.m. CDT double-header.