CANYON, Texas - The Lincoln softball team racked up 12 hits en route to a 7-6 victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville at the West Texas Invitational on Sunday (Feb. 9). The Blue Tigers also faced West Texas A&M, the No. 13 team in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's Division II preseason poll, on Sunday, with the Lady Buffs winnings, 6-0.

Lincoln (1-5) started its contest with Texas A&M-Kingsville (5-6) strong, loading the bases in the first three at-bats on singles by Abbi Conrad and Ann-Marie Simpson and a walk issued to Maris Ollison. Torri Hinnah drove in the first run of the day on a ground out before base hits by Vanessa Cardenas and Mackenzie Graham plated Simpson and Ollison. LU's three-run lead held until the bottom of the third, when the Javelinas brought in their first run on a bases loaded single.

Hannah Heisler scored on a throwing error in the top of the fourth to push the Lincoln lead back up to three, and a double by Graham scored both Hinnah and Cardenas in the top of the fifth to make it a 6-1 affair. Texas A&M-Kingsville got back on the board thanks to a throwing error in the bottom of the fifth, but Conrad made the score 7-2 in favor of the Blue Tigers in the top of the sixth by reaching the plate on a base hit through the middle by Ollison.

Texas A&M-Kingsville attempted to rally in the bottom of the sixth, pulling to within 7-4 on a two-RBI triple. Two more runners came home later in the frame on a base hit, but LU was able to force a ground out to stay ahead, 7-6. Lincoln then forced the Javelinas to go three-up, three-down in the bottom of the seventh to earn its first win of 2025.

Heisler went 3-for-3 at the plate while Conrad, Cardenas and Graham each had two hits apiece. Faith Jaegers also had a hit and Conrad and Addie Lang each turned two assists. Hinnah and Jaegers tied for the team-lead with six putouts apiece while Lang finished with four. In the circle, Kasey Kilburn and Abby Pulliam each struck out three batters while Mallorey Rogers did not allow a hit or a run. Pulliam earned the win and Rogers was credited with a save.

Lincoln's defense was stout during the second game of the day, holding the No. 13 team in the country to just six runs. West Texas A&M (10-0) scored on a sacrifice bunt in the first inning and on a solo homerun in the second, but Lincoln kept the Lady Buffs off the board on the third. West Texas A&M later brought in two runs in the fourth to go up 4-0 before scoring once in both the fifth and seventh frames.

Ollison went 2-for-3 at the plate while Conrad, Emily Thompson and Lindsey Brandt each had a hit for the Blue Tigers. Rogers struck out two batters and Cardenas recorded 11 putouts. Gabby Newman provided five assists, Ollison added four and Conrad supplied two.

Up next for Lincoln softball is the Blue Bridge Battle, as LU will play six games in Evansville, Ind. between Feb. 21-23.