Lincoln College Split in Double Header with Danville Area CC

[March 29, 2017]   The Lincoln College Softball team's offense was too much for Danville Area CC to handle in game one of a double header on Friday. In the bottom of the first inning freshman Kalliegh Rogers of Lincoln hit the first home run of her college career which helped propel the Lady Lynx to a 6-2 victory. Rogers' three run bomb got the scoring started, and junior Ashlyn Carroll, also from Lincoln, pitched a complete game to pick up the win. Carroll (5-1) allowed seven hits, issued two walks and struck out two. Her stellar performance on the mound lowered her season ERA to 1.08.

Sophomore Alex Devaney of Sherman started game two for LC. This one would turn into a real pitcher's duel that saw Devaney go the distance and only give up one run. However, the Lynx offense was unable to score through six innings and went into the bottom of the seventh trailing 1-0. With two outs and the basses empty, freshman Kiya Harper of Decatur drilled ball over the right field fence to tie the score. Sophomore Brighton Robins also of Lincoln, then earned a base hit and later advanced to second base on a pass ball. Rogers then hit a hard line drive off the top of the fence. Robins was waved on to the plate, but was thrown out by a perfect relay from the DACC defense.

Coach Wurth did not regret the decision to send Robins home. "In a heart beat I would have sent Brighton again, even after the fact. Brighton gave us a chance to win it, DACC just happened to come up with the play to save the run from scoring."

The Lady Lynx Softball team celebrates a home-run hit made by Kiya Harper.

DACC would come through with a run in the top of the eighth and hold Lincoln off in the bottom of the inning to take the victory. Devaney (6-2) suffered the loss for the Lynx. She threw 7.1 innings allowing only six hits, three walks and recorded two strikeouts.

Coach Wurth: "Defensivley, I believe that today was one of the best outings we have had. We made some really tough plays and knocked the ball down in the infield to keep DACC runners from advancing an extra base. Offensively, we ended up with a few nice shots but we only collectively had eight hits on the day. We were hitting line drives and their outfield came up with some amazing catches. Our girls put up a good fight all day and until the very last out. They played with more heart than I have seen out of them yet this season. They are 'hungry' to finish the series out in Danville on Tuesday and I anticipate another great day of softball between the two rival conference schools".

[Mark Tippett]