KIRKSVILLE - The Lincoln Blue Tigers got to work on the offensive end Tuesday afternoon as they split a doubleheader with Truman State in Kirksville.
The Blue Tigers won the opener 19-5 as they pounded out 20 hits.
Lincoln (10-19, 9-19 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association) led 5-1 in the sixth when Adam Rush singled home two runs to give the Blue Tigers a 7-1 lead.
Truman (12-20, 11-17 MIAA) scored four times in the bottom of the inning to make it 7-5. But Lincoln's offense exploded in the seventh.
Gus Durst opened the seventh with a single and later came around to score on two throwing errors to make it an 8-5 game. The inning appeared to take a momentum swing in Truman's favor when Lincoln hit into a double play, but the Blue Tigers scored 11 runs with two outs to blow the game wide open and cruise to the victory.
The onslaught was capped off with a James Johndrow grand slam. All 12 runs in the inning were unearned.
Johndrow and Durst each went 4-for-5, with Johndrow picking up six RBI and Durst driving in two runs. Cedric Belt also had a home run for the Blue Tigers.
Eight different Blue Tigers had at least one hit, while Truman finished with just four hits total.
Lincoln freshman Joe Jungmeyer (2-4) tossed five innings and picked up the victory. He allowed two earned runs on two hits while walking eight and striking out eight.
The Blue Tigers could have used some carryover offense in the nightcap as they dropped a 6-2 decision in the nine-inning game.
Truman led 2-1 in the fourth when Lincoln's Adam Burcham led off the inning with a triple. He came around to score on a Jonhndrow single to tie the score at 2.
But Truman took command after that with three runs in the fifth inning and a run in the sixth inning to put the game away.
Sophomore right-hander Darren Lasley was saddled with the loss. He tossed two innings of relief and allowed three runs on three hits.
Truman outhit Lincoln 10-9 in the game.
The Blue Tigers are back in action this weekend with four games at No. 2 Emporia State. The series gets under way with one nine-inning game at 6 p.m. Friday.