JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Lincoln baseball team played its first home game since 2016 on Friday (Feb. 7), dropping a 22-8 decision to William Woods.

The Owls took advantage of 12 hits, including two grand slams, and 16 walks to spoil LU's home opener. William Woods (3-2) scored four runs in each of the first two innings and held the Blue Tigers to just four hits on the afternoon. Lincoln (0-4) stranded seven Owls on the base path, but LU had four of its own runners left on base.

Miguel Padron had two hits, one in the top of the first and another in the sixth inning. The latter was a three-run homer that drove in Brody Johns and Ty Ollison for Lincoln's final scores of the day. All eight of LU's runs came in that sixth inning, which began with Padron, Jayden Little and Jacob Schulte being issued walks. After a pitching change, Chase Morris picked up an RBI when he was also walked, bringing in Padron for LU's first run in a home game in 2025.

Isaiah Figueroa hit the ball towards the second baseman, who bobbled it and ultimately committed an error, allowing LU to keep the bases load. Figueroa's play scored Little for Lincoln's second RBI of the contest. Ollison later launched a hard hit ball through the middle of the offense to bring home Morris and Schulte before Johns singled to once again load the bases. A ground out by Andy Sreboski IV drove in Figueroa and set up Padron's three-run homer.

Drake Davidson struck out two batters and Sreboski fanned one. Little, Schulte and Jared Fulghem each were credited with four putouts while Blythe Blakey and Padron recorded three apiece. Sreboski led the LU defense with three assists.

It was the first home game for the Blue Tigers since baseball was officially brought back as a sponsored sport in 2023. Jack Markway, who was the starting pitcher for Lincoln's first-ever baseball game in 1971, was on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Friday's game, like all of LU's home games this season, was played at Vivion Field, home of the Jefferson City Renegades.

Weather permitting, Lincoln will host a double-header against William Woods on Saturday (Feb. 8) beginning at 12:00 p.m. CST.