Box Score PETERSBURG, Va. – The Lincoln University softball team tied the game in the seventh, but Virginia State scored the winning run in the bottom of the inning as the Lady Lions fell, 5-4, on Sunday afternoon in a CIAA Northern Division game at the VSU Softball Field.
 
The second game of the doubleheader scheduled on Sunday was cancelled because of weather conditions.
 
Virginia State plated two runs in the first, but Lincoln (3-11 overall, 1-9 CIAA) trimmed the margin with a run in the third.
 
The Lady Trojans extended the lead to 4-1 with runs in the fourth and fifth.
 
However, the Lady Lions tied the game at 4 with three runs in the top of the seventh.
 
With one down in the frame, Danielle Owes (Edgewater Park, N.J./Burlington County Institute of Technology), who went 2-for-4, doubled to left and stole third. Emily Woodruff (San Diego, CA/Madison HS) was hit by a pitch and stole second. Avree Morton (Uniondale, N.Y./Holy Trinity HS) brought in Owes and Woodruff on a double to left. Toni Smith (New Castle, DE/William Penn HS) followed with a double to left to score Morton and tie the game at 4.
 
Virginia State scored a run in the bottom half of the inning to get the win.
 
Rucker took the loss as she pitched 6.2 innings. She gave up five runs on 10 hits with a walk and a strikeout.
 
Jessica Mattia earned the win in seven innings as she surrendered four runs on seven hits and fanned eight.
 
Lincoln returns from its four-day road trip with its Home Opener on Tuesday, March 26 at the Lincoln University Softball Field as the Lady Lions play host to Millersville. First pitch for the doubleheader is 2:30 p.m.