JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Lincoln softball team dropped a pair of non-conference games to former MIAA rival Northwest Missouri on Thursday afternoon (April 17). The Blue Tigers fell in the first game, 8-0, and lost the second, 3-0.

Northwest Missouri (20-25) got off to a hot start in game one, scoring four runs in the top of the opening inning. The Blue Tigers forced the Bearcats to go three-up, three-down in the second inning, but NWMSU managed to push three more runs across the plate in the top of the third. 

Lincoln (15-27) was held to two hits, one apiece by Kierra O'Rourke and Torri Hinnah. Kasey Kilburn struck out two Bearcat batters and supplied an assist. O'Rourke, Abbi Conrad and Addie Lang also turned assists, with Lang additionally leading LU with four putouts. Vanessa Cardenas and Hannah Heisler were each responsible for three putouts.

Runs were at a premium in the second game, with both teams holding each other off the board until the top of the third, when a lead-off double led to Northwest Missouri taking a 1-0 lead. The Bearcats brought in both of their other runs in the top of the fifth on a ground-rule double. The Blue Tigers had opportunities to score, but ended up stranding five runners on the base path.

LU was held to four hits, including two by Emily Thompson and one apiece by O'Rourke and Hinnah. Ann-Marie Simpson and Gabby Newman each stole bases and starting pitcher Abby Pulliam notched a strikeout. Heisler led the Blue Tigers with seven putouts, Hinnah recorded six and Newman was next with five. Conrad, Newman, Jamilyn Bagby and Jaedin Blankenship each turned two assists.

The Blue Tigers close out their home slate on Friday (April 18) when Lincoln hosts Missouri S&T for a 12:00 p.m. CDT double-header. Friday is also Senior Day, with a special ceremony planned to celebrate Lincoln's graduating players.