Box Score The Lincoln University women's softball team opened conference play Friday afternoon at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Softball Roundup with a 13-1 five-inning loss to Shaw University at the South Park Complex in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

The loss drops the Lions overall record to 0-3 while Shaw improves to 3-11.  Lincoln is 0-1 in conference games while Shaw improved to 1-1.

Diamond Scott (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) had two of the Lions four hits on the afternoon and scored Lincoln's lone run.  The senior shortstop also stole three bases on the afternoon.  Tierra Russaw (Westland, Mich./Summit Academy) and Breanna Pigford (Mickleton, N.J./Kingsway Regional) had the remaining hits for the Lions with Pigford's driving in the lone LU run.

Jemiah Groce (Newark, Del./Christiana) took the loss for Lincoln, falling to 0-2 on the season.  The freshman pitcher allowed 13 hits and walked two in four innings of work.

???????Tajia Bailey and Tori Hale had two hits apiece for the Bears and also hit home runs.  Kiana Rogers also had two hits.  Rogers and Bailey drove in three runs apiece while Hale and Britta Kline had two RBI apiece.  Amanda Ortiz pitched three innings to earn the win for the Bears.

Shaw jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first inning with the big hits coming off the bats of Rogers (a bases-clearing double, 3 RBI); Kline (a two-RBI double) and Hale (a two-run inside-the-park home run).

The Lions put two runners on in the second but were unable to score, leaving both runners in scoring position.  LU however got on the board with a solo run in the top half of the third.  Scott had a one-out bunt single while Russaw had an infield hit to the left side of the infield, allowing Scott to reach third. Russaw advanced on a wild pitch and two batters later Pigford singled to left field, scoring Scott and advancing Russaw to third while taking second herself on the throw home.  Russaw and Pigford were left stranded in scoring position as an infield groundout end the inning.

Shaw added a single run via a sacrifice fly by Zahrea Lewis in the bottom of the third and three more in the bottom of the fourth to round out the scoring.  Hale's home run was the big blow in the fourth, driving in two.

In Lincoln's final at-bat, Scott had a one-out single, stole second and later stole third but the Lions were unable to get her home for an additional run.

Lincoln will play again at 6:00 p.m. this evening when they face St. Augustine's University.