JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Parkside softball team traveled South on Friday to take on Lincoln University of Missouri. The Rangers would be tripped up by the Blue Tigers, dropping both games and falling to 9-7 overall on the season.
 
Game One
Despite an early offensive surge, Parkside couldn't hold off a late comeback from Lincoln, falling 8-7 in a tightly contested matchup on Friday afternoon.
 
Parkside jumped ahead early, breaking open the game in the second inning with a four-run outburst. After leaving the bases loaded in the first, the Rangers capitalized in the second when Toni Rodriguez singled to center, driving in two runs. Haley Remington followed up with another clutch hit, plating two more to give Parkside a 4-0 lead.
 
The Rangers kept the pressure on in the third, tacking on three more runs. Rodriguez came through again, smashing a two-run double to center, and an error by the Lincoln outfield allowed another run to cross, pushing the Parkside lead to 7-0.
 
Lincoln, however, started to chip away at the deficit in the bottom of the third, scoring its first run of the game on a groundout. The Blue Tigers then struck again in the fifth, using a string of extra-base hits to cut the Parkside lead to 7-4.
 
The turning point came in the sixth when Lincoln put together a two-run rally, bringing the score to 7-6 heading into the final inning. Parkside was unable to add insurance runs in the top of the seventh, setting up a dramatic finish.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Lincoln put runners on with a single and a walk before the game-winning blow, a two-run double to center field that sealed the 8-7 comeback victory for the Blue Tigers.
 
Rodriguez led the way offensively for Parkside, going 2-for-4 with a double and four RBIs. Remington also had a strong performance, driving in two runs. On the mound, the Rangers kept Lincoln in check early, but the Blue Tigers found their rhythm late to complete the rally.
 
Game Two
Lincoln secured a 5-2 victory over Parkside in the second game of the day, using a strong fifth inning to build a lead they would not relinquish.
 
The scoring began in the bottom of the first inning when Lincoln had a runner reach on a fielder's choice, steal second, and later came home on an RBI single, giving Lincoln an early 1-0 lead.
 
The game remained tight as both teams' defenses and pitching limited scoring opportunities. Lincoln added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth, capitalizing on a Parkside error and timely hitting. The Blue Tigers started the inning with back-to-back singles before a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases. An error at shortstop allowed a run to score, followed by a sacrifice fly and a two-RBI single, extending Lincoln's lead to 5-0.
 
Parkside attempted to rally in the top of the sixth when Rylee Baetz led off with a single and later scored on a double down the left-field line by Megan Medlin, cutting the deficit to 5-1. They added another run in the top of the seventh when Kate Harrison walked and eventually scored on a two-out RBI single by Toni Rodriguez. However, Lincoln's defense held strong, closing out the game with a final score of 5-2.
 
Lincoln's pitching was efficient, scattering five hits and allowing only two runs over seven innings, while Parkside's pitchers struggled to contain the timely hitting of Lincoln's lineup.
 
Up Next
The Rangers will have an opportunity to bounce back on Tuesday as they will travel to UIS for double header action. First pitch in Springfield is set for 1:30 p.m. CST with coverage available at ParksideRangers.com/coverage.