The Bisons relied on quality pitching and a seventh-inning-lead-changing home run to cap off their weekend, winning one-of-three against UNC Greensboro.
The Lipscomb Bisons (9-11) began the weekend series against the UNCG Spartans (14-5) with a 9-3 loss on Friday and a 13-9 loss the following day. This came after an 8-7 loss at Belmont earlier in the week. But things finally worked out on Sunday.
“Today we got in striking distance in the sixth inning,” Lipscomb coach Jeff Forehand said. “It took us a while, and Tevin had the big homer.”
In the Friday contest, Spartans junior pitcher Matt Frisbee stayed in the game for all nine innings, allowing only four hits and striking out 13 hitters. The Saturday game lasted for 13 innings, with the Spartans outscoring Lipscomb 6-2 in the last inning.
On Sunday, junior left fielder Tevin Symonette broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the seventh with his first home run of the season. The Bisons won 3-2.
Starting freshman pitcher Noah Thompson allowed six hits and two runs.
“With every start, he’s becoming more and more poised out there,” Forehand said. “Still a freshman, but after a few more starts he’s going to be seasoned, and we won’t be calling him a freshman anymore.”
The Lipscomb outfield also played remarkably well. The Spartans could never seem to hit the ball in the right spot. Thompson himself only pitched one strikeout.
UNCG got things started in the top of the second with a home run from senior left fielder Dillon Stewart to give the Spartans the early 1-0 lead. In the top of the fifth, UNCG extended its lead to 2-0 on a sacrifice groundout by junior second baseman Austin Embler, which sent sophomore catcher Ryan Caveness home.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Bisons got on the board on an RBI double from junior first baseman Cade Sorrells, which sent senior shortstop Blake Thomas home.
The big momentum swinger occurred for Lipscomb in that same inning. With two outs for the Bisons, senior catcher Jeffrey Crisan swung hard and sent the ball high and far for what looked like a possible flyout. Junior right fielder Cesar Trejo chased the ball down and dove for the catch, but it landed well outside his grasp and just inside the foul line. The RBI double sent Sorrells all the way home and tied the game at two.
The Bisons took their permanent 3-2 lead on the key home run scored by Symonette in the bottom of the seventh, and they never looked back.
“We haven’t got swept yet, so it’s definitely good to say that,” Symonette said.
Lipscomb will play at home against MTSU on Tuesday night.
Photo courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics