The Lincoln Blue Tigers pushed across a run in the bottom of the eighth inning Friday to defeat the 21st-ranked Rogers State Hillcats 2-1 to get a split of a doubleheader in MIAA softball action at Lincoln Field.
Alex Miller, Leslie Callahan and Jordan Lawson walked to load the bases for the Blue Tigers with one out in the eighth.
Emily Williams then grounded to second to plate Miller with the game-winner.
The Blue Tigers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Lawson singled and moved to second on a ground out. Jacqueline Marquez then tripled to plate Lawson to make it 1-0.
Rogers State tied the game with a run in the top of the third. The Hillcats had a chance to take the lead in the seventh with a one-out double to put a runner in scoring position, but a pop out and ground out ended the threat.
Ashton Stalling went the distance in the circle to get the victory. She allowed one run on three hits and one walk while striking out two.
Rogers State blanked Lincoln 5-0 in the first game.
The Blue Tigers had two hits in the contest - a bunt single by Williams with two outs in the fourth and a Marquez single in the seventh.
The Hillcats scored two runs in the second, then added single runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings.
Rogers State starter Andrea Morales did not allow a walk and struck out 12 Lincoln batters. Rogers State is now 17-9 overall, 6-4 in the MIAA.
Tressa Hughes pitched the first five innings for Lincoln, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks. She struck out six. Maddie Welker worked the final two frames, allowing a run and one hit.
Lincoln (4-19-1, 2-10) will host Northeastern State in a conference doubleheader starting at noon today.