Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. – Avree Morton (Uniondale, N.Y./Holy Trinity HS) had a walk-off three-run homer in the opening game, but the Lincoln University softball team split a doubleheader with Elizabeth City State on Sunday afternoon during Senior Day at the Lincoln University Softball Field.
 
The Lady Lions (6-16 overall, 4-12 CIAA) took the first game, 15-12, but dropped the second, 12-8.
 
In the first game, Lincoln rallied from a 4-1 deficit to grab an 8-5 advantage after a six-run fifth, but Elizabeth City State (3-20, 1-16) answered with seven runs in the sixth for a 12-8 lead.
 
The Lady Lions tied the game at 15 with a four-run sixth before winning the game in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Mariah Coates (Reading, Pa./Reading HS) led off the frame with a base hit to left and advanced all the way to third on an error. Tara O'Brien (Twickenham London, UK/St. Mark's Catholic School) reached on a fielder's choice as Coates was out at third. Danielle Owes (Edgewater Park, N.J./Burlington County Institute of Technology) followed with a fly out to center and Emily Woodruff (San Diego, CA/Madison HS) drew a walk. Avree Morton (Uniondale, N.Y./Holy Trinity HS) belted a 2-1 pitch deep over the wall in left to give Lincoln a walk-off victory.
 
Lincoln pounded out 12 hits as Erin Rucker (Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights HS) went 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI to pace the offense. Woodruff, Morton (home run) and Toni Smith (New Castle, DE/William Penn HS) (home run) each had two hits, while Mariah Liberty (Waterbury, Vt./Harwood Union HS), Coates and O'Brien collected one.
 
Rucker (5-13) picked up the complete-game win. She gave up 12 runs (seven earned) on 14 hits and fanned six.
 
Heather Smith took the loss in 6.2 innings. She surrendered 15 runs (14 earned) on 12 hits with nine walks and five strikeouts.
 
Lincoln opened the second game with seven runs in the first inning, but Elizabeth City State plated four runs in the second, four in the fourth and four in the sixth to grab a 12-8 advantage.
 
The Lady Lions pounded out 10 hits, led by Owes, Woodruff, Smith and Jasmine Dabney (Baltimore, Md./New Town HS) with two each. Morton and Coates collected one.
 
Rucker took the loss in seven innings, while Kiyana Merritt (3-8) came on in relief to pick up the victory for the Lady Vikings.
 
Prior to the second game, Lincoln honored seniors Mariah Coates (Reading, Pa./Reading HS), Mariah Liberty (Waterbury, Vt./Harwood Union HS), Shira Miller (Seattle, Wash./Roosevelt HS) and Erin Rucker (Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights HS).
 
Lincoln takes to the road for a non-conference doubleheader Friday, April 11 in Rutherford, N.J., against Felician College. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.