LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA. (May 26, 2009) – The Lincoln University of Pennsylvania softball program experienced success, produced many memorable moments and received some national attention during 2009, its second year competing as a varsity sport on the NCAA Division II level.
After going winless in 2008, the Lady Lions finished with a 5-19 record. In addition, Lincoln was also able to savor its first triumph over a CIAA opponent, a 7-3 victory against Virginia Union on April 11. Lincoln was powered by several hot bats as five players finished the season with a .300 or higher batting average. Coach Chris Cummings enjoyed watching the growth of his program.
Freshman Charisse Colston (Oakwood Village, OH/Bedford) led Lincoln with a .610 average, which would have led Division II if Lincoln were eligible to be ranked nationally. Colston, who was selected as the 2008-09 Lincoln Female Athlete of the Year, began her career with a bang by becoming the first Lincoln player in school history to hit for the cycle. Colston achieved the feat in the second game of a doubleheader, a 22-12 victory over Gallaudet. Following the Gallaudet doubleheader, Colston became the first Lincoln softball player to be named the ECAC Division II Player of the Week and featured on NCAAsports.com.
Colston, who did not strike out in 41 at-bats, had at least one hit in 13 of the 15 games she played. She led the Lady Lions with 22 runs batted in and she was second on the team with 25 hits and 21 runs scored. During one stretch early in the season, Colston reached base in 12 consecutive plate appearances.
Playing softball for the first time in her life, senior Sharell McMillan (Levittown, PA/Harry S. Truman) led Lincoln in hits (27), runs scored (30), triples (four) and home runs (three) while batting .365. McMillan had 11 multi-hit games and 10 extra base hits. She hit a home run in each game of the Saint Paul's doubleheader on April 10. A model of consistency at the top of the line-up, McMillan reached base at least once in Lincoln's final six games.
Junior DeJuana Mosley (Chester, PA/Chester) finished with a .340 batting average. She drove in 20 runs, which was second on the team and had 17 hits. Senior Tanina Cook (Landover, MD/Charles Herbert Flowers) had a .314 batting average with 22 hits and 25 runs scored. Cook slugged her first career home run against Saint Paul's. She also enjoyed the first three-hit game of her career. Junior Jasmine Baxter (Washington, D.C./McKinnley Tech HS) had 10 hits and drove in 10 runs.
Freshman Britny Adams flourished on the mound and at the plate. She won both of her games against Rosemont including a wild 24-23 victory in which the potential tying run was thrown out in the bottom of the seventh inning at home plate following a wild pitch. Adams led Lincoln with 14 stolen bases. She had 15 hits and 15 runs batted in. Adams drove in the game-winning RBI in Lincoln's first victory in school history with a double in the sixth inning against Gallaudet.
Freshman pitcher Taylor Hines (Beachwood, OH/Beachwood) struck out a team-leading 43 batters. She fanned a career-high 11 in a 7-3 victory over Virginia Union. Hines earned the winning decisions in the Lady Lions' season-opening doubleheader sweep of Gallaudet.
Seniors Nicole Appollon and Capri Burnett (Philadephia, PA./Roxoborough) were original members of the Lincoln softball program when it was a club sport. The season was special for them because of the success they experienced. Appollon collected her first career hits during the second game of a doubleheader against Saint Paul's. Burnett, who scored the first run in Lincoln softball history last year, had four hits and four runs batted in.
Sophomore Sasha Evans (Hampton, VA/Phoebus) was invaluable as a catcher and senior Alisa Davis (Deptford, NJ/Gloucester County Tech) added some experience and defense in the outfield. Freshman Sharay DuBose (Salisbury, Md./Parkside HS) and seniors Angelle Green (Yeadon, PA/Penn Wood) and Jordean Matthews (Pleasantville, NJ/Pleasantville) made some strong contributions during the season.
Lincoln will look to build on this season's success. From the consecutive triples by Cook and McMillan against Saint Paul's to Evans successfully blocking the plate to tag out a runner trying to score to Davis' shoestring catch against Millersville to the excitement of watching Colston slug a grand slam home run against Saint Paul's and to the awesome road trips, the 2009 softball season was one to cherish.
Lincoln is expected to participate in the full CIAA conference schedule next season. With Adams, Colston and Hines returning, the Lady Lions are looking forward to competing at a high level for the next few years.
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