JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Abby Pulliam allowed just one run in six innings of work to help the Lincoln softball team beat Maryville, 3-1, in the second game of a double-header on Saturday (March 28). The Blue Tigers also played well in the opener, but the Saints used a late home run to win that contest, 8-6.

In the second game, Ann-Marie Simpson got on base with an infield single and Gracie Wright reached on balls. Both players came home on a double hit by Faith Jaegers. A strong pitching performance from Pulliam combined with stellar play from the LU defense proved that was all the offense that the Blue Tigers would need, as Lincoln (11-10, 3-5 GLVC) held on for the victory.

Maryville (15-15, 5-5 GLVC) did not get on the board until the fifth inning, as the Saints used a pair of doubles to bring in their only run of the contest. It didn't take long for Lincoln to respond, though, as Wright drove in Hannah Heisler on a single up the middle to give the Blue Tigers back a two-run advantage.

Pulliam struck out two batters while Maddie Sechrest got the save after pitching a scoreless and hitless seventh inning. Simpson, who stole two bases, and Wright each had two hits while Jaegers and Josie Bezzole finished with one apiece. Jaegers led Lincoln's defense with seven putouts.

In the first game, Heisler led the bottom of the opening frame off with a base hit and scored on a sacrifice fly from Jaegers to give LU an early 1-0 lead. An RBI double in the top of the second allowed the Saints to tie the game, but Kylie Baker scored on a bases-loaded walk in the bottom half of the inning to put LU back on top, 2-1.

Maryville had a big third inning, however, scoring five runs on six hits to end the frame with a 6-2 lead. TK Lawson began the comeback bid for the Blue Tigers with a solo home run to lead off the fourth, and Lincoln tacked on four more runs in the fifth inning to tie the game. Simpson led the latter inning off with a single, then scored from first on a double hit by Wright. A ground out from Jaegers allowed Wright to score, then a throwing error brought in Josie Stewart to tie the contest at 6-6.

During the second at-bat of the sixth inning, Maryville broke the tie with a two-run homer, and that ended up being the difference in the ballgame. Lawson, Wright, Stewart and Reese Smith each had two hits in the opener while Simpson and Heisler finished with one apiece. 

Mallorey Rogers struck out three Maryville batters in a relief role. Stewart tallied nine putouts, Ella Percival supplied five and Wright finished with four. Jaegers led LU with four assists.

Lincoln returns to LU Softball Field on Sunday (March 29) to host McKendree in a 12:00 p.m. CDT double-header.