The Lipscomb Bisons baseball team made a big statement this weekend against the University of Connecticut by taking two of the three games played.
The Bisons pushed the Huskies to the brink in game one of the series by forcing extra innings, but failed to execute when it came down to the end.
Junior shortstop Grant Massey did, however, launch his first home run of the year in the second inning to give the Bisons a 2-0 lead that eventually faded.
UConn got on the board in the fifth inning after third baseman Bryan Daniello laced a line drive into the right field corner and eventually scored on an infield ground out.
The Huskies took their first lead of the game in the seventh after putting several at bats together. Max McDowell was hit by a pitch and moved into scoring position. He was then driven home by a single to left field.
UConn continually executed when they needed to. The Huskies capitalized on some Bison mistakes which lead them to the 6-4 extra inning victory.
In game two of the series, the Bisons were in familiar territory. They once again forced UConn into extra innings and this timed executed.
Senior designated hitter Chad Shannon drew a bases loaded walk in the tenth inning to give Lipscomb the 4-3-comeback win.
The Bisons got a good start to the tenth inning after Massey bounced a double off the center field wall. Senior right fielder Drew Adams showed patience at the plate by drawing a walk to put two on the base paths. Junior first baseman Tyson Ashcraft then laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners.
An intentional walk of freshman third baseman Hunter Hanks set the stage for Shannon to win the game on a walk.
This set up the rubber match on Sunday afternoon where the Bisons offense exploded.
Behind a 12-run eighth inning the Bisons took the third game of the series 14-1 to improve their overall record to 4-8.
Junior centerfielder Jonathan Allison lead the offensive outburst by going 4-4 with a triple and a double driving in four runs.
Sophomore starting pitcher Denton Norman kept the UConn offense in check for six innings by allowing just four hits, three walks and striking out five. This moved Norman to 1-1 on the season.
The Bisons are back in action on Wednesday, March 5 in Bowling Green, Kentucky vs. the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.
Photo courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics.