Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 OXFORD, Pa. – The Lincoln University softball team ended is home portion of the schedule on Wednesday afternoon as the Lady Lions dropped a pair of CIAA Northern Division contests to Virginia Union, 7-1 and 14-5, at Old Gold Field at the Oxford Athletic Association Sports Complex.
 
In the opener, Erin Rucker (Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights HS) finished with nine strikeouts, but it wasn't enough in a 7-1 loss.
 
The Lady Lions fell behind early and tried to cut the deficit with a run in the bottom of the fourth as Avree Morton (Uniondale, N.Y./Holy Trinity HS), who went 1-for-3, doubled to left and advanced to third when Jasmine Baxter (Washington, D.C./McKinnley Tech HS), who was 1-for-2, singled to right. Morton scored on a double steal as Baxter took second. However, Lincoln was unable to plate more runs in the frame.
 
Rucker (2-19) took the complete-game loss in surrendering seven runs on 10 hits with three walks.
 
Quincy Lewis (7-15) earned the win in working seven innings. She fanned 13 and walked three, while giving up a run on three hits.
 
Mariah Coates (Reading, Pa./Reading HS) also had a hit in the loss.
 
In the second game, Lincoln (2-20 overall, 0-14 CIAA) fell behind early, but rallied with a four-run first inning to take a 4-3 advantage.
 
Coates led off the bottom of the frame with a walk and scored when Rucker ripped a one-out triple to the wall in left center. Sharay DuBose (Salisbury, Md./Parkside HS), who went 2-for-3, roped a single up the middle to plate Rucker. Morton, who went 1-for-3, singled down the line in left to advance DuBose to second. Baxter reached on an error to load the bases and DuBose scored on an illegal pitch. Shira Miller (Seattle, Wash./Roosevelt HS) and Marrisia Moore (/) reached on back-to-back walks to plate Morton, which gave Lincoln a 4-3 advantage.
 
However, the Lady Lions' bats fell silent after the opening inning in falling to the Lady Panthers.\
 
Rucker surrendered 14 runs (11 earned) on 13 hits with five walks and a pair of strikeouts in five innings to take the loss.
 
Lewis gave up five runs on five hits with four walks and fanned two in five innings to earn the win for the Lady Panthers (9-24, 6-10).
 
Lincoln concludes the season on Saturday, April 14 with a CIAA Northern Division doubleheader against Chowan University in Murfreesboro, N.C. The twinbill starts at noon.