CANYON, Texas - The Lincoln softball team opened its 2025 campaign on Friday (Feb. 7) with a pair of games at the West Texas Invitational, hosted by West Texas A&M. In LU's first game of the season, the Blue Tigers took a big lead before Eastern New Mexico rallied to win, 7-6. The Blue Tigers faced the host school in the second game, and West Texas A&M, ranked No. 13 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's Division II preseason poll, won by a final of 20-1.

The first game was a pitching duel through the first three innings, as the teams entered the top of the fourth deadlocked at 0-0. Abbi Conrad led the game off with a single down the middle and Mackenzie Graham hit a double in the second inning. In the fourth inning, however, Torri Hinnah hit a two-out single, advanced to second on a walk issued to Vanessa Cardenas and then scored Graham's second hit of the day, giving LU the early 1-0 lead.

After facing just four batters in the bottom of the fourth, Lincoln's offense swung into high gear in the fifth, as the Blue Tigers scored five runs on five hits. Lincoln loaded the bases on a walk by Gabby Newman and base hits from Josie Bezzole and Ann-Marie Simpson before Maris Ollison drove in a pair of runs on a hit into centerfield. An error by the Greyhounds led to Simpson coming home, and a single by Hinnah drove in Ollison to put Lincoln ahead, 5-0. Hinnah later increased the LU lead to 6-0 by scoring on a fielder's choice.

Eastern New Mexico (5-1) was able to rally in the bottom of the fifth, however, as back-to-back RBI singles followed by a grand slam quickly pulled the Greyhounds back within one. An error by the Blue Tigers led to ENMU tying the game at six, and Eastern New Mexico scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly later in the inning. Simpson hit a double in the top of the sixth and Cardenas got on base via a walk in the seventh, but ENMU managed to hold on to its one-run advantage.

Graham finished with three hits while Simpson and Hinnah had two apiece. Mallorey Rogers and Kasey Kilburn each struck out two Greyhound batters while closer Jaedin Blankenship did not allow any hits or runs. Conrad and Ollison each turned two assists while Hinnah supplied five putouts and Graham and Faith Jaegers were each responsible for four.

In game two on Friday, the No. 13 team in the country lived up to its reputation, as West Texas A&M (6-0) scored 20 runs on 23 hits. Lincoln's lone score came in the bottom of the second, when Graham hit a double before later scoring on a throwing error. Simpson also had a hit for the Blue Tigers.

Kilburn struck out two West Texas A&M batters while starter Abby Pulliam fanned one. Hinnah and Jamilyn Bagby tied for the team-lead in putouts with four apiece and Cardenas was next with two. Bagby, Pulliam, Newman, Ollison, Conrad and Addie Lang each tallied an assist.

Lincoln continues play at the West Texas Invitational on Saturday (Feb. 8) with games against Texas A&M-Kingsville at 9:00 a.m. CST and vs. Eastern New Mexico at 6:00 p.m. CST.