PINE BLUFF, Ark. - Josie Bezzole and Ann-Marie Simpson each drove in a pair of runs as the Lincoln softball team beat NCAA Division I opponent Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 5-4, on Tuesday afternoon (March 10). The victory came in the opening game of a double-header; UAPB took the second game, 14-6.

After a scoreless first two innings, the Blue Tigers got on the board first in the top of the third. Simpson reached on a fielding error and later scored on a base hit from Gracie Wright. The Golden Lions led the bottom half of the frame off with a double, but LU got the runner out on a fielder's choice to hold onto its 1-0 advantage entering the fourth inning.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff (5-11) issued walks to Reese Smith and TK Lawson to start off that inning. Abi Jorgensen entered as a pinch runner, and she and Smith scored on Bezzole's base hit into right field. Ella Percival followed that with a single of her own, and both she and Bezzole scored on an outfield hit from Simpson, making the score 5-0 in favor of the Blue Tigers.

A two-RBI double and an RBI single allowed the Golden Lions to cut the deficit down to two in the bottom of the fourth, but Lincoln (8-5) maintained a 5-3 lead heading into the sixth after a 1-2-3 defensive fifth inning. Arkansas-Pine Bluff tacked on a run in the bottom of that frame, but that was as close the Golden Lions would come to tying the game. In the seventh inning, UAPB got a runner on via a walk, but LU caught that player as she tried to steal second. Lincoln forced a pair of line outs to seal the victory.

Abby Pulliam and Mallorey Rogers each struck out two UAPB batters and Maddie Sechrest picked up her second save of the season. Hannah Heisler had two hits, including a triple. Simpson also finished with two hits and stole two bases. Wright, Bezzole and Percival were also credited with steals.

Faith Jaegers and Josie Stewart tied for the team-high with four putouts apiece. Heisler, Wright and Simpson each recorded three putouts and Percival supplied two. 

Lincoln got off to a fast start in the second game, as Heisler led the contest off with a base hit before scoring on a double by Wright. Jaegers drove in Wright on a single, then later stole home to give LU the early 3-0 lead. The Golden Lions scored two runs in the bottom of the first, then put four more runs on the board in the second on three hits and an error. A bases-loaded walk issued to Bezzole brought in Wright in the third inning, and Paige Rees hit a sacrifice fly in that same frame to plate Smith, pulling the Blue Tigers to within 6-5.

After stranding a Golden Lion on third in the bottom of the third, Simpson scored on a double from Wright in the fourth inning to tie the game at 6-6. Arkansas-Pine Bluff broke the tie with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, however, and later used a six-run fifth inning to seal the win.

Jaegers and Marlee Brown each had two hits, with Brown also stealing a base. Defensively, Jaegers finished with 10 putouts. Percival had five assists and Wright was next with four.

Lincoln was previously scheduled to play two games at Christian Brothers in Tennessee on Wednesday (March 11), but weather forced those contests to be canceled. The Blue Tigers will next play on Saturday (March 14), as LU travels to Bolivar, Mo. for a GLVC double-header against Southwest Baptist. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. CDT.