JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - For the second-straight day, the Lincoln softball team played in a pair of very close contests, but Southwest Baptist ended up getting both wins on Sunday (March 9). SBU took game one, 4-3, and game two, 5-3.

In the opener, Southwest Baptist (10-12, 4-0 GLVC) drove in two runs on a double during the top of the first, but Lincoln (8-12, 0-4 GLVC) tied the game in the bottom of the fourth. Ann-Marie Simpson singled on a bunt and Lindsey Brandt doubled to give LU a pair of runners in scoring position. Simpson made it back to the plate on a passed ball while a ground out from Mackenzie Graham allowed Brandt to score, making it a 2-2 contest.

It did not take the Bearcats long to break the tie, however, as SBU scored two more runs on three hits in the top of the fifth. Another hit by Simpson plated Emma Rakes in the bottom half of the frame, but neither team would score again afterwards, giving Southwest Baptist the one-run win.

Lincoln out-hit Southwest Baptist, 7-6, and committed just one error while the Bearcats had two. Abbi Conrad, Josie Bezzole, Torri Hinnah and Gabby Newman also had hits for Lincoln, and Abby Pulliam struck out two SBU batters while Kasey Kilburn fanned one. Hinnah finished with 10 putouts while Conrad, Newman and Pulliam each turned two assists.

In the bottom of the second inning in game two, Kierra O'Rourke hit a double and later scored the first run of the contest on a ground out from Newman. Conrad scored in the top of the third, giving LU a 2-0 advantage, but a triple and a passed ball allowed two Bearcat runners to return home in the third inning to tie the game. Two more SBU runners scored in the fourth inning and the Bearcats padded their lead with another score in the sixth.

Brooklyn Smith scored a run as a pinch runner and Conrad and O'Rourke each had two hits while Simpson and Hinnah had one apiece. Jaedin Blankenship struck out a batter while Conrad turned five assists and Graham recorded three. Addie Lang added two assists and Hinnah led Lincoln with 14 putouts.

The Blue Tigers head to Warrensburg, Mo. on Tuesday (March 11) to play a non-conference twinbill against Central Missouri. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CDT.