JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Lincoln softball team tallied nine hits en route to an 8-0 five-inning run rule win over William Jewell in the first game of a double-header on Saturday (May 2). The Cardinals scored some late runs in the second game to split the twinbill with a 3-0 victory.
In the first contest,
Mallorey Rogers pitched a gem, throwing three strikes while allowing just one hit in a complete-game effort. After the Cardinals loaded the bases with just one out in the top of the first inning, Rogers retired 14-consecutive batters to seal the win for the Blue Tigers. Entering the final day of the season, Lincoln is 23-22 overall and 9-17 in GLVC play.
After keeping William Jewell (20-28, 11-15 GLVC) off the board in the top of the first, Lincoln got its offense going in the bottom of the frame, as
Hannah Heisler reached on a walk to set up
Gracie Wright for a two-run homer. Heisler scored her second run of the game in the bottom of the third on a WJC error, Wright scored on a fielder's choice and
Kierra O'Rourke returned to the plate on a ground out from
Josie Stewart. A wild pitch brought in
Faith Jaegers and gave the Blue Tigers a 6-0 advantage through three innings.
Ann-Marie Simpson led the bottom of the fourth off with a base hit, took second on a single from Heisler and reached third on a passed ball. A sacrifice fly by Jaegers brought Simpson home for LU's seventh run of the ballgame. In the fifth inning,
Josie Bezzole got on board with a walk and
Ann-Marie Simpson sent her to second with a base hit. Heisler, who went 3-for-3 at the plate in game one, singled into left field to bring home Bezzole for a walk-off win via the run rule.
Simpson and Wright had two hits while Bezzole and Stewart each had one. Stewart led the LU defense with six putouts and Heisler was next with four. Wright, Jaegers, Rogers and
Reese Smith each had assists.
The second game was a pitcher's duel, with neither team getting on the board until the sixth inning. A two-RBI double by William Jewell in that frame broke the deadlock, and the Cardinals added their third run later in the sixth on another double. Heisler, O'Rourke and Bezzole each had hits for LU, but the Blue Tigers stranded four runners on the base path.
Abby Pulliam struck out four WJC batters in the circle, and
Joss Marriott gave up only one hit while pitching the final 1.1 innings of the contest. O'Rourke and
Paige Reese each had four putouts and Bezzole and Simpson were next with three apiece. Wright had a team-high three assists.
Lincoln will close its 2026 campaign on Sunday (May 3) with a 12:00 p.m. CDT double-header against Rockhurst. Following the second game, LU will recognize its graduating players in a Senior Day ceremony.
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