JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Torri Hinnah's double in the bottom of the eighth drove in Hannah Heisler to break a scoreless tie and give the Lincoln softball team a 1-0 victory over Illinois-Springfield on Sunday (March 30). The win came in game two of a twinbill, with UIS winning the opener, 10-0.

The Blue Tigers nearly scored in the first inning of game two, as hits by Abbi Conrad and Hinnah gave LU runners at the corners with just one out on the board. In the top of the second, it was the Prairie Stars with a chance to open the scoring, as UIS loaded the bases on three singles before catcher Kierra O'Rourke picked off an Illinois-Springfield runner on third and pitcher Mallorey Rogers forced a ground out to end the frame.

Back-to-back base hits by Mackenzie Graham and Lindsey Brandt gave LU two base runners in the fourth while, in the sixth inning, Illinois-Springfield (22-13, 10-6 GLVC) led the frame off with a double, but both teams' defenses kept the game scoreless. Rogers ended up pitching 7.1 innings and notching a strikeout while Maddie Sechrest, who allowed just one hit, earned the win by closing out the contest.

After regulation there was still no score, so the game entered extra innings. In the top of the eighth, UIS managed to get a pair of runners on with only one out on the board, but Heisler made a good catch in center field and an even better throw to third, where Graham tagged the Prairie Star runner for an inning-ending double play. In the bottom half of the frame, Conrad singled but was thrown out on a fielder's choice that allowed Heisler to safely reach. An attempted double play backfired on Illinois-Springfield, as the throw to first was wide of the mark, allowing Heisler to take second. That brought up Hinnah, who's hit into deep center field allowed Heisler to come home for a walk-off double.

Conrad and Hinnah led Lincoln (11-21, 2-12 GLVC) with two hits apiece while Heisler, Graham and Brandt each had one. Vanessa Cardenas led the LU defense with nine putouts and Heisler recorded six while Graham was next with five. Rogers tallied five assists, Gabby Newman finished with three and Graham and Conrad each supplied two.

In the first game, Lincoln was held without a hit. The Prairie Stars, meanwhile, scored on a double steal in the first inning, then increased their lead to 4-0 in the third. Kasey Kilburn started the contest in the circle and struck out two batters before Abby Pulliam came into the game and fanned one. Hinnah posted a team-high nine putouts while Conrad and O'Rourke each had three. Conrad also turned four assists while Addie Lang provided two.

Lincoln travels to Fayette, Iowa next Saturday (April 5) to play Upper Iowa in a 5:00 p.m. CDT double-header.