JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - For the first time as a member of the GLVC, the Lincoln softball team has swept a conference opponent. The Blue Tigers relied on excellent pitching and timely hitting to take two games against Quincy on Sunday (April 13), as LU won the opener, 2-0, and took game two in five innings, 10-2.

Lincoln (15-25, 6-16 GLVC) tacked its first run of the day on the board in the bottom of the opener's second inning, as Jamilyn Bagby hit a solo home run. After stranding a Quincy (7-33, 3-19 GLVC) runner on third in the top of the fifth, the Blue Tigers added an insurance run in the bottom half of the frame, as Addie Lang hit a lead-off triple before scoring on sacrifice bunt laid down by Lindsey Brandt.

Quincy had an opportunity to get back into the game in the top of the seventh, as each of the first three QU batters that frame hit singles, loading the bags with nobody out. Abby Pulliam who pitched the entire game and allowed just five hits, struck out the next Quincy batter. Lincoln was then able to force the Hawks to hit into a fielder's choice that resulted in a runner being thrown out at the plate. Pulliam then sealed the win by getting the final batter to hit a slow-roller to Lang at shortstop, and Lang made the easy throw to Vanessa Cardenas at first to give LU a shutout victory.

Pulliam picked up her seventh win of the season and finished with four total strikeouts. Abbi Conrad also had a hit for LU while Lang provided three assists and Bagby supplied two. Cardenas was responsible for six putouts, Bagby was next with five and Ann-Marie Simpson added three.

Lincoln's bats lit up in the second game, as the Blue Tigers tallied nine hits en route to the 10-2 victory. Quincy got its first run of the afternoon on a ground-rule double in the top of the first inning, but the Blue Tigers responded quickly, starting with Conrad hitting a double to lead-off the contest for LU. Simpson ended up scoring the first run on a fielding error, and she, Cardenas and Bagby all stole bases during the frame. After a base hit from Kierra O'Rourke, Cardenas scored on a fielder's choice and Bagby came home during a rundown situation.

Walks issued to Gabby Newman and Simpson and a single from Hannah Heisler allowed Lincoln to once again load the bags in the bottom of the second. Cardenas then hit a line drive into right field, allowing Newman and Heisler to score. Quincy threw to home to try and prevent the second run, allowing Cardenas to take second. When the Hawks responded by throwing to the bag, Simpson ran to the plate on the throw to put LU ahead, 6-1.

Lincoln was not lighting up the scoreboard in the second, as Bagby was issued a walk, then scored, along with Cardenas, on a double hit by O'Rourke. The Blue Tigers took the seven-run lead into the bottom of the third, where Newman made it a 9-1 contest by scoring from second on an outfield single by Heisler. A solo home run in the top of the fourth allowed Quincy to cut the deficit back down to seven, but O'Rourke notched another RBI in the bottom of the inning by plating Simpson on a single through the left side of the defense.

Kasey Kilburn earned her second win of the season after the pitching the first three frames and allowing only three hits. Jaedin Blankenship finished the game in the circle and gave up just two hits.  O'Rourke went 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBI and Simpson finished with two hits, as did Heisler.

Defensively, Cardenas had six putouts while Josie Stewart, who entered the game in the final inning, was credited with all three putouts as LU retired the side in order. Simpson also had three putouts while the rest belonged to Conrad, Newman and Heisler. Newman and Blankenship each had two assists while Conrad finished with a team-high four assists.

Lincoln steps out of conference play on Friday (April 18) to resume its rivalry with former MIAA opponent Northwest Missouri. The Blue Tigers will host the Bearcats in a double-header beginning at 12:00 p.m. CDT.