JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Lincoln softball team recorded 35 hits and struck out 15 opposing batters on Monday (Feb. 24) as the Blue Tigers won a pair of games against Westminster in LU's first home contests of 2025. Lincoln took the opener, 6-0, before lighting up the scoreboard in game two en route to a 30-2 victory over the Blue Jays.

Abby Pulliam struck out 11 while allowing only two hits and one walk in LU's game one shutout victory. Seven of those strikeouts came in the first three innings, helping Lincoln (3-5) hold onto a 2-0 run it claimed on a homerun by Faith Jaegers in the bottom of the second. Mackenzie Graham, who hit a double right before Jaegers came to the plate, was LU's other scorer in that second frame.

Josie Bezzole led off the bottom of the fifth with a double and scored on a base hit by Abbi Conrad for Lincoln's third run of the afternoon. Later in the fifth, Conrad reached home on a ground out by Torri Hinnah. Hits by Graham and Jaegers that were both followed by throwing errors led to LU's fifth run, and Bezzole drove in Hannah Heisler for the final score of the opening contest.

Bezzole, Graham, Jaegers, Conrad and Ann-Marie Simpson each finished with two hits apiece while Maris Ollison also had a hit, giving LU 11 for the contest. Jaegers led Lincoln with three RBI and was LU's defensive leader with 11 putouts. Hinnah recorded five putouts and Gabby Newman provided two while Pulliam finished with two assists.

Lincoln could not ask for a better start in game two, as the first 13 Blue Tiger batters not only got on base, but also scored, as LU raced out to a 15-0 lead at the end of the opening inning. Lincoln kept the offense going with eight more runs in the second inning, five in the third and two more in the fourth. The Blue Tigers totaled 24 hits and 21 RBI while holding Westminster (0-2) to just four hits and two fourth inning runs.

Ollison, who homered, led LU with five RBI and finished with three hits and three runs. Conrad scored four runs and added three RBI on three hits while Jaegers had a hit and an RBI in her only at-bat of the contest. Simpson scored two runs on two hits and Heisler ended the game with a hit, a run and an RBI.

Lindsey Brandt scored four runs on one hit and three walks and also had an RBI while Vanessa Cardenas finished with three runs, two hits, two RBI and a walk. Graham also had a hit and an RBI in her only at-bat, and Emily Thompson notched a hit and scored a run while Emma Rakes had an RBI and scored twice on two hits.

Jamilyn Bagby accounted for three of Lincoln's runs and finished with two hits and an RBI. Addie Lang also scored three times and had two hits, one of which resulted in an RBI. Kierra O'Rourke had two RBI and two runs on two hits while Bezzole closed out Lincoln with two RBI, a run and a hit.

Jaedin Blankenship pitched the complete game and struck out four batters. Cardenas posted a team-high four putouts and Lang led LU with two assists.

Lincoln will be back in the friendly confines of LU Softball Field on Wednesday (Feb. 26) to host Stephens in a 12:00 p.m. CST double-header.