JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - For the first time in eight years, the Lincoln softball team defeated an MIAA opponent via the run rule, as the Blue Tigers beat Newman, 11-1, in the second game of a double-header on Friday (April 5). The Jets ended up taking the opener, 3-0.

The Blue Tigers scored four runs in each of the second and third frames and took advantage of 11 hits and two errors by Newman to claim victory in the night cap. Abbi Conrad and Taylor Heimbaugh each went 2-for-2 at the plate while Maris Ollison had two hits and Lindsey Brandt scored twice to go with two RBI. Paige Rademann earned the win in the circle, notching two strikeouts while giving up just one run, as the Jets scored on a ground out in the final inning.

Conrad got the offense going with a two-out base hit in the bottom of the first, reached third on a single from Ollison, and scored while the Jets tried to catch Ollison in a rundown. The Blue Tigers got a defensive three-up, three-down inning in the second, highlighted by a diving catch made by shortstop Gabby Newman in shallow left field. Gabby Newman finished with three putouts in the win as well as one assist.

Mackenzie Graham led the second inning off with a base hit into right field and Heimbaugh singled through the left side. Brandt made it a 2-0 lead for LU with her liner into right field, and Leslie Callahan drove in Heimbaugh with a line drive through the middle. Conrad brought in both Brandt and Conrad later in the frame on a two-out double, giving the Blue Tigers a 5-0 cushion.

Lincoln (11-23, 3-13 MIAA) held Newman (15-23, 3-9 MIAA) to just five hits and did not allow a Jet base runner to advance past second base until the final inning, when NU accomplished the feat on a sacrifice bunt. The Blue Tigers, meanwhile, kept its offense going steadily the entire game, and took a 7-0 advantage on a single from Emily Thompson that drove in both Graham and Newman. A fielding error by Newman allowed Thompson to score, and LU ended the third inning with a 9-0 lead after an RBI single from Ollison plated Brandt.

Vanessa Cardenas led the fourth inning off with a base hit and later scored on a wild pitch, and Brandt notched an RBI on an infield single that scored Heimbaugh for Lincoln's final run of the afternoon. The 10-run difference in the final score put the run rule in effect, meaning the game ended on Newman's final out in the top of the fifth inning. This gave Lincoln its first run rule victory over an MIAA rival since April 8, 2016, when the Blue Tigers beat Lindenwood, 13-4.

Torri Hinnah led LU defensively with six putouts while Thompson had two. Conrad finished with five assists, three of which came in the first inning. Ollison and Rademann each also had an assist.

The first game of the day was a pitcher's duel, with Mallorey Rogers striking out four Newman batters and Abby Pulliam striking out one. Neither pitched allowed an earned run, as a pair of LU errors allowed the Jets to score all three of their runs in the top of the fifth inning. That inning was also the only time in the contest that a Newman batter reached third base.

Gabby Newman and Heimbaugh each had a hit and Hinnah supplied a team-high 10 putouts. Jamilyn Bagby tallied three putouts while Graham and Conrad each had two. Conrad also recorded a team-high five assists, Gabby Newman finished with three and Bagby registered two.

Lincoln will be back at LU Softball Field on Saturday to host Central Oklahoma, the No. 8 team in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II poll, in a 12:00 p.m. CDT double-header.