SOFTBALL BLUE TIGERS BRUSH ASIDE BEARCATS

Lincoln University took a pair of season-opening non-conference games from Southwest Baptist University on Feb. 27 at the Lincoln University Softball Field.  The Blue Tigers (2-0) won game one 4-2 and bashed three-home runs in the second game to claim an 8-4 victory.

GAME ONE

   The Blue Tigers jumped out to a quick start with three runs in the bottom of the first inning.  Ashley Prenger led off by getting to second base on a pair of Bearcat errors.  Beth Arnel took a walk.  Prenger was forced out at third base on a fielder’s choice from Lesley Osborne.  A double into the left field corner from Heather Heimericks scored Arnel and Osborne.  An error on the play allowed Heimericks to move to third base.  Abby Stuenkel singled home Heimericks for a 3-0 Blue Tiger lead.

   Southwest Baptist scored a run in the top of the second inning.  Amanda Orchard drew a walk and stole second base.  Orchard crossed the plate on an error by Prenger (second base).

   Mary Nguyen got on base in the top of the third with a bunt single for SBU.  Nguyen stole second and third, before scoring on an error by Arnel (catcher) to trim the Lincoln University advantage to 3-2. 

   Lincoln University added their final run of the game in the bottom of the third inning.  Arnel walked and moved to second on a wild pitch from Orchard (starting pitcher).  A groundout to Darla Newman (third baseman) by Heimericks gave Arnel time to run to third base.  Arnel scored on a passed ball, which got behind catcher Ashley Loftis.

   Heimericks was 1-of-2 at the plate (double) and had 2 Runs-Batted-In.

   Nikki Nelke (1-0) recorded the win for Lincoln University.  She had a career-high 10 strikeouts.

GAME TWO

   Osborne hammered a pitch from Jana Provance over the fence in left centerfield to give the Blue Tigers a 1-0 edge in the bottom of the first.

   SBU scored single runs in the second and third innings to take a 2-1 lead.  Alisa Klingenberg reached base when the ball hopped out of the glove of Karen Plaster (leftfield).  A single by Cyndi Euliss moved Klingenberg to second.  The Bearcats loaded the bases on a Rebecca Cook single.  Klingenberg scored on a wild pitch to tie the game 1-1.

   Amy Marshall got a lead off walk in the third and later scored.  Tara Phillips hit a single to centerfield to give the Bearcats base-runners on first and second.  A walk for Orchard packed the bases for Southwest Baptist.  Marshall gave the Bearcats a 2-1 lead when she scored on a force out of Phillips at third base off the bat of Rachel Shaw.

   The Blue Tigers had 11 at-bats in the fifth inning and scored seven runs.  Plaster began the inning with a walk and then stole second.  Prenger drove a Provance pitch into left field for a single and ran to second on the throw to the infield.  A fielder’s choice by Arnel loaded the bases.  Back-to-back walks to Osborne and Heimericks scored Plaster and Prenger for a 3-2 Blue Tiger lead.  Stuenkel came up and smashed a grand slam over the left field fence to give Lincoln University a 7-2 advantage.  Orchard came on to relieve Provance for the Bearcats.  The first batter Orchard faced was Kelsey Barnard.  The freshman from Jefferson City, Mo. whacked a ball into the scoreboard in leftfield for the first home run of her collegiate career. 

   The Blue Tigers maintained their 8-2 edge until the top of the seventh inning.  A lead off double by Marshall began a Bearcats rally.  Orchard singled to right centerfield, scoring Marshall.  Orchard scored on a double by Klingenberg to deep left centerfield.  Nelke induced Euliss into a game-ending strikeout for an 8-4 Blue Tiger win.

   Osborne was 1-of-2 (home run) with 2 RBI.  Stuenkel went 1-of-3 (grand slam) and picked up 4 RBI.

   Nelke (2-0) took the win.

   Lincoln University returns to action Feb. 28 at 1:00 p.m. facing Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville on the Lincoln University Softball Field.  The Cougars are ranked No. 5 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Preseason Top 25 poll.

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