Kimber Markley set the tone from the pitcher's circle once again as Abraham Lincoln shut out intra-city rival St. Albert 5-0 in a prep softball game at St. Albert Wednesday.

Markley twirled a one-hitter to pace the Lynx, striking out 11 batters against no walks to pick up her 17th win of the season.

"Kimber had a real good game tonight. She was hitting her spots," A.L. coach Pat Kroll said. "She was pretty confident and dominant and that gives the rest of the team a lot of confidence.

"We had some good defense behind her tonight," Kroll added. "We were on our toes and making plays."

With Markley and her defense cruising, the Saintes struggled to get anything going offensively. Katie Deveraux accounted for the lone St. Albert hit with a double.

"Kimber's a very good pitcher," said St. Albert coach Katie Heithoff. "She moves the ball around very well."

The Lynx chipped away at the Saintes offensively, scoring one run apiece in the second and third innings to get in the driver's seat early.

Brennan Murray and Becca Page had two hits each for A.L., with Murray driving in a pair of runs.

"We got ourselves on base," Kroll said. "St. Albert has come a long ways, they've had some good wins this year, so we were going into it knowing we'd have a game on our hands. It was important for us (to get base-runners)."

The Saintes mixed it up by using three different pitchers, with Trevour Yates, Melanie Hilderbrand and Felicia Campbell all seeing time in the circle.

"All three of my pitchers did a wonderful job," Heithoff said. "A.L. just hits the ball hard."

The game served as senior night for St. Albert, as left fielder Meghan Crowley and designated hitter Erika Powers played in their final home game for the Saintes.

St. Albert is on the road at Farragut tonight, while A.L. plays at the Urbandale Tournament over the weekend.

Abraham Lincoln 011 020 1 - 5 10 0

St. Albert 000 000 0 - 0 1 2

Kimber Markley and Sara Milner. Trevour Yates, Melanie Hilderbrand (3) and Felicia Campbell (7) and Amy Ryan, Jess Campell (3), Ryan (7). W-Markley (17-9), L-Yates.

Records: Abraham Lincoln (17-9), St. Albert (7-19).