It was a tale of two games for the Lipscomb softball team on Tuesday afternoon.
After dropping the first game 9-2, the Lady Bisons bounced back winning 3-1 in game two against Western Kentucky at Draper Diamond at Smith Stadium.
In game one, the Lady Toppers opened the score in the third inning, but Lipscomb tied the score in the bottom of third.
Junior outfielder Brittany Elmore hit a single to right field, then stole second before junior infielder Baylee Williams drove her home on a single up the middle.
Things began to unravel for the Lady Bisons in the fifth inning as the Hilltoppers capitalized on two hits, two walks and two hit batters for five runs.
Elmore scored the only other run in the bottom of the fifth on an error. She also stole three bases, bringing her season total to 27.
The Lady Toppers went on to score two more runs in the sixth before adding their ninth and final run in the last inning.
Junior Tanner Sanders was accredited with the loss. She surrendered seven runs, five hits, walked seven and struck out two batters in five innings of work.
Sophomore McCarley Thomas gave up two hits and two earned runs in two innings of relief.
Following the first game, Lipscomb coach Kristin Ryman stressed that the team needed the leaders to step up.
“Leadership’s a big thing for us,” Ryman said. “We’ve got to play with a little bit more fire. It starts with our seniors — them bringing that fire and leadership everyday in practice and then bringing it on game day.”
In game two, senior outfielder Brianne Welch opened the third inning with a bunt single, then stole second before reaching third on a balk.
Senior infielder Paige Neely drove Welch in on a two-out double to left center field. Williams came back with a double of her own to bring home Neely.
In the fourth inning, Welch hit a solo home run over the scoreboard to open up a 3-0 lead. The Lady Toppers finally got on the board in the sixth on a lead-off home run. The Lady Bisons recorded seven hits with Welch and Neely leading the charge with two a piece.
In the circle, junior pitcher Kelly Young went the distance for Lipscomb. She gave up five hits while striking out seven and walking three.
Ryman said playing a non-conference game in the middle of the season would help keep the team fresh for conference play.
“We don’t like going all week without playing — we like to keep them in game mode,” Ryman said.
The Lady Bisons move to 13-17 overall and will be on the road this weekend for a three-game series with conference foe Northern Kentucky.