By Dan Carr, assistant AD for media relations
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Lincoln softball team improved to 4-0 on the season with a sweep over Lane on Friday afternoon (Feb. 21). The Blue Tigers took the first game, 9-1, in six innings, and won the second, 10-1, in five frames.
Lincoln had another big day offensively, collecting 15 hits in the opener and eight in the nightcap. In the first game of the day, Emily Williams and Jordan Lawson each went 3-for-4 at the plate, while Lawson and Alex Miller each had two RBI. Mykenzie Livesay and Bekah Kirker also each had a pair of hits in Friday’s first game.
After a scoreless opening frame, Lincoln got on the board in the second inning of the opener when Livesay scored on a throwing error after hitting a triple. The Blue Tigers blew the game open in the third inning, bringing in six runs on seven hits, including two on a double by Miller. Lawson hit an RBI triple while Kirker drove in Livesay with a double.
Lane (0-4) got on the board with a bases-loaded single in the fifth, but Lincoln ended the game early with a pair of scores in the bottom of the sixth. Jordan Hollon, Tressa Hughes, Kendra Holt and Payton Mooney all had hits in the win, while Hughes pitched a gem, striking out nine while allowing only two hits and no earned runs.
Paige Parker led the LU defense with 10 putouts, Holt recorded three and Livesay finished with two as well as two assists. Kirker also turned two assists in the win.
In game two, Lincoln took advantage of several miscues by Lane to build an early lead. Ashton Stalling and Williams each scored on an error by the LC right fielder in the first inning, and the Blue Tigers plated four more unearned runs in the second.
After allowing an RBI single by the Dragons in the top of the third, Lincoln went back to work in the bottom half of the frame, as Kirker scored on a base hit into left center field by Hollon. LU proceeded to score three more times in the fourth inning, as Lawson scored on a base hit by Miller, Miller came home on a passed ball, and a sacrifice fly by Mooney allowed Livesay to reach the plate.
Hannah Clark got the win in the circle, notching a strikeout while allowing no earned runs and just two hits. Clark also had two hits in two at-bats, while Stalling scored twice on two hits. Miller closed the game, striking out three Lane batters without giving up a run or a hit.
Lincoln will take to the road for the first time in 2020 next week, traveling to Springfield, Mo. for four games in the Drury Invitational. On Friday (Feb. 28), LU plays Drury at 2:00 p.m. CST and William Jewell at 4:00 p.m. CST. On Saturday (Feb. 29), the Blue Tigers face Newman at noon. CST and Southwest Baptist at 2 p.m. CST.
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