JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Lincoln softball team matched the school record for wins in a season after beating Cottey twice on Tuesday (April 7). The Blue Tigers won the first game, 4-1, before notching a 3-0 shutout in game two.

The only run of the day for Cottey (23-8) came in the top of the second inning of the opener on a sacrifice fly. That put the Comets ahead, 1-0, but the Blue Tigers came back in the bottom of the third to take the lead. Ella Percival led that inning off with a base hit, then Hannah Heisler hit a double. An errant throw allowed Percival to score and Heisler to take third, and a bunt single laid down by Ann-Marie Simpson drove in Heisler for a 2-1 LU lead. Another throwing error, this one after a base hit by Gracie Wright, brought in Simpson for Lincoln's third run of the afternoon.

Heisler scored another run in the bottom of the fifth, as she hit a two-out single before Simpson notched an RBI triple. Lincoln finished with eight hits in the opener, including three by Simpson and two from Heisler. TK Lawson also had a single during the win.

Mallorey Rogers pitched the first six innings of the opener and struck out three to earn the win. Maddie Sechrest picked up her fifth save of the season after retiring all three batters she faced in the seventh inning, one of which was via a strikeout. Josie Stewart led the Blue Tigers with 10 putouts while Faith Jaegers finished with four. Wright had a team-high four assists and Percival was next with three.

Lincoln allowed just two hits in the second contest as Abby Pulliam pitched a complete-game shutout and struck out four Comet batters. LU's first run came in the third inning when Abi Jorgensen, who reached on an outfield single, scored on Heisler's double down the left field line. Wright led the fifth inning off with a double and returned to the plate on Kierra O'Rourke's single into center field. Jorgensen had another hit in the fifth inning and eventually scored on a single by Wright.

The Blue Tigers once again finished with eight hits, including two apiece by Heisler, Wright and Jorgensen. O'Rourke and Paige Rees had LU's other hits while, defensively, Jaegers recorded a team-high seven putouts. O'Rourke was responsible for four putouts and Rees, who led LU with four assists, tallied three putouts.

With the wins, Lincoln improves to 17-14 on the season. This year's squad becomes the third team overall, and the first since the 2000 and 2001 teams, to win 17 games in a season. One more victory would give this year's Blue Tiger team the most-ever in a single season.

Lincoln is on the road for four GLVC games this weekend. On Saturday (April 11), the Blue Tigers will be in Springfield, Ill. to play Illinois-Springfield in a 12:00 p.m. CDT double-header. The Blue Tigers will then travel further east on Sunday to play Indianapolis in Indianapolis, Ind. in a 12:00 p.m. CDT twinbill.