Baseball is a game of consistency.

Every game comes down to being able to execute the fundamentals that will win or lose a game. The Lipscomb Bisons baseball team is ready to prove that they have what it takes to compete in 2014.

“Consistency is huge,” said Lipscomb baseball head coach Jeff Forehand.

“A team that is built that way through pitching, hitting and defense is going to be successful. Everybody being consistent in every phase of the game is going to be huge for us.”

Opening day is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 14 (Valentine’s Day), and this group of Bisons are itching to finally get the games started.

“Every year when the first game comes around, everybody is excited,” Forehand said. “We have practiced and prepared so much without being able to play games. It’s a thrill to finally get out there and play.”

This team’s identity is rooted in consistency, and Forehand believes that these players are ready for the grind of a new season.

“We recognize who were are,” Forehand said. “They know that through consistency we will be good.”

Baseball is also an individual sport at times. A lot of focus is put on the individual performance of players, but for this group to be successful, they are going to have to take on a selfless quality.

“Others will want to hear about their batting average or pitching stats, but this team has to be willing to sell out for their team,” Forehand said.

The road to success will not be easy. The Bisons will play schools such as Connecticut, Western Kentucky and Vanderbilt during the season.

To Forehand, being able to play teams of this caliber is an exciting opportunity for the Bisons, but the preparation process will not change.

“The name on the jersey doesn’t matter, we don’t prepare any different for these guys,” Forehand said. “We just go out and play the best we can. We look at it as a challenge for us and we are excited to play these guys.”

The Bisons’ ultimate goal for 2014 is to win a national championship. They know that, to reach that goal, there will be several things they will have to take care of along the way.

“An A-Sun Championship is the first goal because if you don’t do that, then you can’t compete for a national championship,” Forehand said. “There are 297 teams in college baseball, and we have the same chance of playing in Omaha as they do.

“We have to go into every game with the mentality that we are 0-0. We have to take it one game at a time.”

Photo courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics