JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Lincoln softball team made history on Saturday (April 18), as the Blue Tigers beat Lewis, 12-7, in the first game of a double-header. That win was the 18th of the season for Lincoln, setting a new program record for victories in a season.

Ann-Marie Simpson hit a triple in the bottom of the first inning to begin the milestone victory. Gracie Wright drove in Simpson on a base hit, and later scored when Kierra O'Rourke hit a double. TK Lawson and Josie Stewart were each issued walks, and O'Rourke came home when Reese Smith reach based on balls. 

That put LU ahead 3-0, and Lincoln (18-19, 4-14 GLVC) tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the second. Another bases-loaded walk brought home Simpson, and a single by Smith drove in O'Rourke to make it a 5-0 contest.

An RBI double allowed Lewis (21-17, 10-6 GLVC) to get on the board, and the Flyers later scored five runs in the top of the fourth to briefly take a one-run advantage. Undaunted, the Blue Tigers went back to work in the bottom of the fourth, beginning with a double from Wright. Smith hit a single to plate Wright, then Ella Percival doubled, driving in O'Rourke and Stewart. Back-to-back base hits from Hannah Heisler and Simpson respectively scored Smith and Percival, putting Lincoln on top, 10-6.

The Flyers scored on a fielder's choice in the top of the fifth, but Stewart hit a two-RBI single to plate Abi Jorgensen and O'Rourke in the bottom half of the frame. The Blue Tigers stranded a Lewis base runner in the top of the sixth, then set the Flyers down in order in the seventh to seal the victory.

Jaedin Blankenship got the win in the circle, Abrea Simmons notched a strikeout and Maddie Sechrest pitched LU to a three-up, three-down inning in the top of the seventh. Wright, Simpson and Smith each had two hits and O'Rourke scored four runs. Lawson and Josie Bezzole also had hits for Lincoln. Wright recorded a team-high seven putouts and Percival turned five assists.

In the second game of the double-header, Lincoln got on top early, but the Flyers rallied for a 6-4 win. In the bottom of the second inning, Lincoln put the first two runs of the game on the board when Smith hit a home run that also scored Kylie Baker. Lewis took the lead in the top of the third by scoring three runs on two hits, but the Blue Tigers regained the advantage in the bottom half of the inning when O'Rourke hit a homer that additionally plated Simpson.

An RBI double allowed Lewis to tie the game in the fourth, then took the lead on an RBI triple that was immediately followed by an RBI base hit. In the fifth inning, Paige Rees reached second base, while Bezzole made it to third in the bottom of the sixth, but the Flyers kept the Blue Tigers off the board to clinch the two-run victory.

Lawson, Rees, Simpson and Wright also had hits while Abby Pulliam notched a strikeout in the circle. Stewart recorded five putouts while Wright, O'Rourke and Abi Jorgensen tallied four apiece. Percival and Smith each had two assists.

Lincoln is back at LU Softball Field on Sunday (April 19) to host Upper Iowa in a 12:00 p.m. CDT double-header.