The Lincoln softball team opened MIAA play with a pair of losses to Northwest Missouri State on Friday at Lincoln Softball Field.
The Bearcats scored seven runs in the final three innings of the first game to win 9-1. Northwest Missouri got on the board early in the second game, scoring nine runs in the first three innings on its way to an 11-1 victory in five innings.
Jordan Lawson, who went 3-for-3, led off the fourth inning of the first game with a single and later scored on a Chelsey Kerr double to cut the Bearcat lead to 2-1.
Northwest then scored three runs each in the fifth and seventh innings and one in the sixth.
Madison Ragar (1-6) took the loss for Lincoln, allowing five runs (three earned) on eight hits with four walks and two strikeouts in 4 innings.
Delayne Patton (2-5) was the losing pitcher in the second game, allowing 11 runs (eight earned) on 13 hits with five walks in five innings.
Lincoln's lone run came in the first inning when Tori Nienhueser singled and Kiley Kerr scored on an error. Kerr went 2-for-2 with a pair of singles.
Lincoln (3-11, 0-2 MIAA) will host Missouri Western today. The doubleheader is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.