by Hunter Patterson | May 22, 2010 | News Slider, Sports
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. _ Caroline Mason’s two-out ground ball single down the left field line scored Mollie Mitchell with the game-winning run in the ninth inning in a 7-6 extra inning win over UAB Saturday night. It was the second game of the day for both teams. The Lady Bisons had lost 5-2 to Alabama to open a blistering hot day at the Alabama Softball Complex in the second day of the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional. UAB beat Alcorn State 9-0 in six innings to eliminate the Lady Braves from the regional. They had approximately 30 minutes to get ready to face the Lady Bisons. The Lady Bisons raised their record to 50-12, a new all-time program high for wins in a season. The old mark of 49 was set in the NAIA era in 1997. It was only the third extra innings game of the season for the Lady Bisons. The Lady Bisons are unbeaten in extra innings games. The Lady Bisons will have a rematch with top-seed Alabama Sunday at 1:30. If the Lady Bisons win that game the two teams will meet again at 4 with the winner advancing to a Super Regional. Friday night the Lady Bisons beat UAB 4-1 to open the regional. The Lady Bisons are 3-1 against the Blazers this season. In the first inning the Lady Bisons scored one run. Courtney Billington singled to left field to bring home Kellie Sirus who had reached base on a two-out double that bounce off the lower left field wall. In the third the Lady Bisons struck for four runs. Lauren Dortwegt opened with a single...
by Hunter Patterson | May 22, 2010 | News Slider, Sports
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama Crimson Tide (50-9) beat the Lipscomb Lady Bisons 5-2, to close out game three of the NCAA Softball Tuscaloosa Regional. Alabama got out to an early lead, piling on three runs in the first inning against the NCAA ERA leader Whitney Kiihnl. The Tide then tacked on a run in both the fourth and fifth innings while Lipscomb scored runs in the fifth and sixth innings to narrow the gap. UA freshman Kayla Braud paced the Tide at the plate, collecting two hits and pushing her regional total to five. Junior Kelsi Dunne (28-4) earned her 15th straight win by allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits. The right-hander struck out 10 and walked one. Kiihnl was tagged with just her fourth loss of the season, allowing five runs, two earned, in four innings of work. Lipscomb returns to action today at 6:30 p.m. against the winner of this afternoon’s UAB-Alcorn State game which is slated to get underway at 4:30 p.m. The winner of the 6:30 p.m. game will face Alabama Sunday at 1:30...
by Hunter Patterson | May 21, 2010 | Uncategorized
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. _ No matter how much the Lipscomb Lady Bisons tried to act like it was just another game there were more than enough jitters to go around before the facing UAB in the first round of the NCAA Regional at the Alabama Softball Complex. It was the first NCAA Regional appearance for both Lipscomb and UAB. Lady Bisons coach Kristin Ryman had stressed the need to take control of the game early in an effort to chase away the nerves. The Lady Bisons had split a doubleheader with UAB April 20, winning 1-0 and losing 7-5. They scored one run in the first, two in the second and added another in the fifth on the way to a 4-1 win over UAB from Conference-USA.. “I couldn’t be more proud of the way we came out and jumped on them early,” Ryman said. “Any time we score first it takes the pressure off. It definitely takes the pressure off our pitcher, Whitney Kiihnl. “There are always some nerves that are present when you’re playing in your first Regional. We were familiar with UAB already which was a good thing going in. I’m just glad we walked away with a win in our first game.” The Lady Bisons will face Alabama, the regional host and No. 1 seed, Saturday at 1:30. The Crimson Tide is 49-9 and advanced by beating Alcorn State Friday night 9-0 in a game called in the fifth inning due to the eight-run lead rule. Alcorn State, from the Southwestern Athletic Conference, finished its season with a 24-25 record. Kiihnl, a sophomore, struck out 11...
by Hunter Patterson | May 18, 2010 | Sports
On Sunday night the Lady Bisons found out where their journey to a National Championship would begin—Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Lady Bisons clinched a berth in the NCAA tournament after winning the Atlantic Sun Tournament earlier that weekend, defeating USC Upstate 11-0. The team was also the A-Sun regular season champions. Lipscomb was on the winning side of the scoreboard a remarkable 48 times this season. At the end of the regular season their final record stood at 48-11 overall and 18-2 in the Atlantic Sun. While the team dominated the Atlantic Sun, the voters for postseason awards took notice. Six players were all conference, and head coach Kristin Ryman was named coach of the year. The Lady Bisons were lead on the mound this year by sophomore Whitney Kiihnl. Kiihnl went 31-3 on the season, posting an ERA of 0.74. That ERA was good enough for the best in the nation. In 41 appearances (213 innings), Kiihnl only gave up 22 earned runs. Kiihnl also ranks 14th in strikeouts per seven innings with 10.5. The Lady Bisons were also a force from the plate. Kellie Sirus finished the season ranked 17th in home runs with 17. As a team, Lipscomb finished the season ranked twelfth in the nation in batting average and 27th in slugging percentage. With those types of numbers, Lipscomb has caused a stir in the NCAA Softball polls. Lipscomb cracked the top 25 in a few polls this season, getting the national recognition that the team deserves. After Selection Sunday Lipscomb found themselves in the the very top group along with number one ranked Alabama, Alcorn...
by Hunter Patterson | May 11, 2010 | News Slider, Sports
The Lipscomb Lady Bisons’ domination of the Atlantic Sun Conference continues. Sophomore pitcher Whitney Kiihnl was named conference Player of the Year and was the unanimous choice as conference Pitcher of the Year by a vote of A-Sun coaches and sports information directors. Lady Bisons coach Kristin Ryman, who has guided the Lady Bisons to the A-Sun regular season championship, was named A-Sun Coach of the Year. She also won the award in 2008 when the Lady Bisons tied for the regular season title. Kiihnl has a 28 wins overall and is 11-0 in A-Sun games. She has five shutouts, including a perfect game against Austin Peay Feb. 26. She was a five-time A-Sun Pitcher of the Week this season. “I am so happy for Whitney,” Ryman said. “She has put together an unbelievable year both in the circle and at the plate. I couldn’t be more proud of her. “With as many good players as we have, she still stands out. I think she is very deserving of both awards, and I think it is cool that the coaches in the A-Sun think the same way. Whitney is truly one of the most well-respected players in our league. I think the most exciting thing for us is that we get her for two more years.” She has been the leader nationally in NCAA Division I in earned run average for most of the season with a .71. Kiihnl also doubled as a designated player this season, batting .361, fourth highest overall in the A-Sun. “She has done it all for us this year,” Ryman said. “She is obviously...
