It took the North Florida Ospreys 10 innings to beat Lipscomb’s Bisons, 1-0, Friday morning at Ken Dugan Field at Stephen L. Marsh Stadium.

Originally scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, rain delays throughout the tournament forced the No. 4 Lipscomb vs. No. 2 North Florida game to be moved to 9 a.m. on Friday.

Sophomore pitcher Jeffrey Passantino took the mound to begin the game for the Bisons. He pitched 9.2 innings and threw threw 84 strikes, allowed one walk, six hits and zero runs.

The Osprey’s freshman pitcher Austin Drury held his own, though. After pitching eight innings, Drury exited the field, having struck out eight and allowing two hits.

In the top of the fourth, Lipscomb freshman Zeke Dodson had the Bison’s first hit of the day, singling to left field. He was left on first, though, as the Bisons couldn’t bring him home.

In the top of the ninth, Lee Solomon singled for the Bison’s second hit of the game. This was the last of the two hits Drury allowed.

After Drury, North Florida brought in Corbin Olmstead, Daniel Moritz and Matthew Naylor to pitch, with Naylor ending up getting the win for the Ospreys.

Lipscomb’s Passantino handed the ball over to senior pitcher Cody Glenn in the bottom of the 10th inning.

In the tenth inning, North Florida’s Dakota Higdon hit a walk-off triple to right-center, driving in Bubba Olivera as the needed run to make the final score 1-0.

This ended Lipscomb’s five-game win streak and continued North Florida’s eight-game win streak.

Last year’s final in the ASUN Championship was between Lipscomb and North Florida, with Lipscomb taking the victory 8-7 to win the tournament.

Shortly after the tense extra-innings game, North Florida will face No. 6 Stetson at 12:30 p.m. on Friday.

In an elimination game, Lipscomb will face No. 5 FGCU at 4 p.m. on Friday.

Photo courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics

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