JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Lincoln baseball team had 27 hits as the Blue Tigers opened their 2026 season by sweeping a double-header against Harris Stowe on Friday (Feb. 13). The Blue Tigers took advantage of a nine-run inning to take the opener, 12-4, and claimed an 8-1 victory in the night cap.

A fielder's choice brought in the first Blue Tiger run of the season, as Jayden Little scored in the first inning of the opener. LU maintained its lead until the fourth inning, when Harris Stowe (0-4) drove in four runs to take a three-run advantage. Lincoln got back within one in the fifth inning, as Aiden Streight scored on a sacrifice fly hit by Easton Stuckenschneider and Little reached home on a balk.

After stranding a Hornet runner on second in the top of the sixth, Lincoln took command of the game in the bottom of the frame, beginning with a two-run homer by Little that also plated Streight. Daren Walters-Ansell and Stuckenschneider hit back-to-back singles, setting Hunter Mitchell up for a three-run homer that increased the Blue Tiger advantage to 8-4. A bases-loaded walk allowed Blythe Blakey to score, Streight scored Andy Srebroski IV on a base hit, and Little got his third RBI of the frame by being hit by a pitch with the bags still full. Nate Lucas capped the nine-run inning by scoring on a sacrifice fly by Walters-Ansell.

Little went 3-for-4 at the plate in the opener with three runs and three RBI. Mitchell also had three RBI and matched Walters-Ansell, Streight and Sreboski with a pair of hits. Stuckenschneider drove in two runs and had a hit while Blakey and Tim Fleming had one hit apiece.

Carter Otto picked up the win on the mound, and he and Dave Watkins III each notched strikeouts. Jacob Schulte led LU defensively with four putouts while Little, Walters-Ansell and Streight were each responsible for three. Walters-Ansell also finished with three assists.

In the second contest, Harris Stowe scored in the top of the first inning on a sacrifice fly, but was kept off the scoreboard afterwards. Little opened the bottom of the first with a double and came home on a two-base hit by Mitchell. Srebroski later drove in Mitchell via a sacrifice fly, and the Blue Tigers maintained the lead for the rest of the ballgame.

Mitchell's second double of the game brought home Walters-Ansell in the third inning, and Mitchell later picked up another RBI on a single in the fourth frame that plated Nolan Laughlin. In the fifth inning, Laughlin hit a double down the left field line to bring in Srebroski, Fleming came home on a sacrifice fly hit by Streight, and Little doubled to drive in Laughlin, increasing the LU lead to 7-1. Zane Hunter II capped the scoring in the bottom of the sixth by coming home on a fielder's choice.

Brody Kleffner pitched the first six innings of Friday's second game and struck out four Hornet batters to earn the win. Ed Noy struck out two batters as LU's closer. Little and Mitchell each went 3-for-4 at the plate while Blakey, Fleming and Laughlin recorded two hits each. Srebroski had the other hit for LU, which out-hit HSSU by a combined total of 27-12 on Friday.

Little and Laughlin tied for the team-lead in putouts with six apiece, and Streight had five putouts in centerfield. Blakey and Srebroski each recorded two assists.

Lincoln was supposed to play Harris Stowe again on Saturday (Feb. 14), but forecasts calling for heavy rain led the coaches to cancel those contests. The Blue Tigers are next scheduled to play a four-game series against UHSP in Alton, Ill. next Friday and Saturday (Feb. 20-21).