KEARNEY, Neb. - The Lincoln softball team was held to eight hits as the Blue Tigers dropped both games of a double-header to Nebraska Kearney on Saturday (April 13). Lincoln fell in the opener, 4-1, and dropped game two, 10-2.

After hitting a double, the Lopers scored Saturday's first run in the bottom of the opening inning of game one on a base hit into center field. The score remained 1-0 in the top of the third when Emily Thompson singled before reaching third on an error. A failed double steal attempt, however, kept the Blue Tigers off the board.

Nebraska Kearney (18-24, 5-13 MIAA) plated two more runs in the fourth inning and later took a 4-0 lead on a double steal attempt in the bottom of the fifth. Lincoln (12-28, 4-18 MIAA) finally broke through in the sixth inning, as Leslie Callahan lined a shot into right field, took two bags on wild pitches and reached the plate on a ground out by Taylor Heimbaugh. That was as close as LU would come to rallying, however, as the Lopers ended the game with three-straight strikeouts.

Maris Ollison had a hit for LU in the opener and Mallorey Rogers struck out three Loper batters in 3.1 innings of work. Torri Hinnah recorded five putouts, Thompson finished with three putouts and three assists and Callahan, Ollison, Gabby Newman and Abbi Conrad were each responsible for two putouts. Conrad turned three assists while Newman provided two.

After a scoreless first inning in the second game, Nebraska Kearney plated an unearned run on a double in the bottom of the second inning. The Blue Tigers responded well in the top of the third, as Callahan and Heimbaugh hit back-to-back singles before advancing on a wild pitch. An infield fly out allowed Callahan to score and another wild pitch brought in Heimbaugh for a 2-1 LU lead.

Nebraska Kearney scored three runs on consecutive doubles in the bottom of the third and never looked back, bringing in five more scores in the fourth inning and another in the fifth. TK Lawson went 2-for-2 at the plate for the Blue Tigers while Vanessa Cardenas also had a hit. Paige Rademann struck out a UNK batter and Cardenas posted a team-high seven putouts. Conrad tallied three assists, Rademann added two and Allison Schwartze and Kierra O'Rourke had one apiece.

The Blue Tigers will be at LU Softball Field in Jefferson City on Wednesday (April 17) to host Truman State in a 2:00 p.m. CDT non-conference double-header.