by Todd Lamberth | Mar 11, 2017 | News Slider, Sports
The Lipscomb men’s tennis team got back on track on Friday with a 4-2 win over Ball State. Lipscomb (3-7) was able to get ahead early by winning the doubles point on its way to snapping its three match skid. “Today was a great effort by the team to work together and really represent the culture we talk about,” Lipscomb assistant coach Geoff Hernandez said. “We had a strong fighting spirit, and that makes us proud. The best part about today was that everyone contributed to the win.” Daniel Cardenas and Jorge Ortegon got the Bisons on the board early as they pulled out the 6-3 win at the second doubles line. After getting down a break at the third line, Thais Minet and George Wong rallied to a 7-5 win to give Lipscomb the point advantage heading into singles play. “The doubles was crucial today,” Hernandez said. “George and Thais did a great job at 3. They were loud and fought back from being down a break to clinch the point.” Lipscomb continued their strong play into singles play, getting wins at the first, second and fourth lines. At the top spot, Alejandro Manzanares defeated Lucas Andersen 6-4, 6-3. After having to step into the top spot in the order two weeks ago, the junior has won his last two matches. The Bison coaching staff know what Manzanares is capable of so his success at the top line comes as no surprise. “We know Alejandro is a good enough player to win at one, and today he acted that way,” Hernandez said. “He was professional and focused against...
by Lindsey Nance | Mar 10, 2017 | News Slider, Sports
The glaring sun wasn’t the only bright spot for Lipscomb’s Lady Bisons as they defeated Campbell’s Lady Camels 5-2 on Wednesday afternoon at Draper Diamond. The Lady Bisons (16-5) have extended their record to a seven-game winning streak and have won 10 of their last 11 games. Campbell (14-10) traveled to Lipscomb after an 8-6 win at Austin Peay earlier that day. Lipscomb now leads the series 14-5 over the former ASUN member Campbell. “We didn’t have the sharpest start, and that’s something we’ve talked about that we need to do a better job of,” Lipscomb coach Kristin Ryman noted. “We need to do a better job during the midweeks of being the aggressor and punching first instead of getting punched first.” Much of Lipscomb’s success can be credited to the diamond. Sophomore Mandy Jordan was a force to be reckoned with as she struck out 12 batters to land her 10th win of the season. “Mandy made some key pitches when we needed them, and our offense came through late,” Ryman said. “Every time we seem to throw a challenge her way, she finds a way to elevate.” Campbell came out hot with a quick double and put a run on the board soon after. The quick run by Campbell ignited a flame inside Jordan as she struck out the next three batters to close out the inning. The Lady Camels continued to carry the momentum on offense as they landed their second double in three innings to get on base. Jordan struck back with a quick strikeout followed by a foul line layout by Sarah Higgins to...
by Eric Ansett | Mar 9, 2017 | News Slider, Sports
The commonly used sports axiom, “a win is a win,” proved true for the Lipscomb baseball team on Wednesday night. The Bisons came back on three separate occasions, then got out of a bases-loaded jam to hold on for an 11-9 win in a 3-hour and 50 minute marathon at Dugan Field. The win brings the Bisons to 8-4 on the season as they head into a 3-game series with University of Michigan, who cracked the top-25 this past week. Lipscomb starter Dayton Tripp (2-0) did not have his best stuff on the mound, and the opponent Tennessee Tech took advantage early. First baseman Chase Chambers got the scoring started with a single that drove in two runs in the first frame. Infielder Matt Jones belted a hanging breaking ball into left-center for two more runs in the second. Designated hitter Ryan Flick went yard in the third to make the score 5-0, Golden Eagles. “We just started slow, and sometimes that happens after a long weekend [at Auburn] and when school starts to catch up to you,” skipper Jeff Forehand said. Not to worry. Comeback number one came in the bottom of the fifth inning. Left-fielder Von Watson singled, followed by a Jeffrey Crisan double, before shortstop Blake Watson got an RBI single to bring the Bisons on the board. Junior star Michael Gigliotti walked to load the bases before second baseman Lee Solomon was hit by a pitch to bring home another run. First baseman Cade Sorrels got an RBI groundout, and Gigliotti eventually scored on another wild pitch by the Golden eagles. Junior Jake Perry drove Solomon in with...
by Tyler Harvey | Mar 6, 2017 | News Slider, Sports
The Lipscomb Lady Bisons participated in the Purple and Gold Challenge at Draper Diamond over the weekend. The team dominated the field against Stony Brook with a score of 7-1, Valparaiso (7-0) and Easter Illinois (4-0, 8-0). Sophomore pitcher Mandy Jordan shut down Eastern Illinois for Lipscomb during the first game on Friday, limiting the Panthers to no runs and only three hits. Saturday morning, senior pitcher McCarley Thomas threw a shut out against Valparaiso, granting the team with the first loss in the season. Saturday afternoon Lipscomb went head-to-to head with Stony Brook and came out victorious as well. Sophomore third baseman Sarah Higgins finished the game two-for-four with a homerun and four RBI’s. In the final game of the Purple and Gold Challenge, Lipscomb played Eastern Illinois for a second time, earning a score of 4-0. Lipscomb finished the tournament with a 15-5 season record, 4-0 in the Purple and Gold Challenge and 5-0 at home. The Lipscomb Lady Bisons on Wednesday will take on Campbell at Draper Diamond and will travel to Memphis for an away tournament next weekend. Photo courtesy of Lipscomb...
by Cole Gray | Mar 4, 2017 | News Slider, Sports
Michael Gigliotti came to Lipscomb as an unpolished speed-demon with a chance to make an impact at the top of the batting order. He may walk away as the most-decorated player in Bison baseball history. “Gigs” is carrying a host of preseason accolades into his junior year: three preseason All-America selections, ASUN Conference Preseason Player of the year, ASUN Conference Defensive player of the year and a spot on the Golden Spikes Award watchlist. MLB.com named him the 23rd-best prospect in the country and a top-five outfielder. What did it take for the centerfielder that couldn’t bunt and played left field in high school to become a top prospect? A fateful batting practice two years ago, a wrist injury and a busy summer. Gigliotti arrived at Lipscomb in 2014 after consecutive state championships in Florida under legendary coach Rich Bielski. But the first time he tried to lay down a drag bunt in batting practice, assistant coach Brad Coon laughed in his face. Coon was a standout center fielder and leadoff batter like Gigliotti but was an expert bunter. He played at Trevecca Nazarene University for Lipscomb head coach Jeff Forehand. Coon was drafted by the Angels in the 15th round of the 2005 MLB Draft and reached Triple-A before retiring in 2012. “Michael being the same player that I am really helped me help him,” Coon said. “I know what he’s going through. I know how they’re going to pitch him. I know what it takes to play at the next level for him. I know what people want to see — what he needs to improve in....
by Cole Gray | Mar 3, 2017 | News Slider, Sports
Conference Player of the Year Dallas Moore and the North Florida Ospreys’ array of shooters proved too much to handle for the Lipscomb men’s basketball team on Thursday night, felling the Bisons 91-85 in the ASUN semifinal at Allen Arena. The Ospreys were scorching-hot from deep all night, making 12-of-14 threes in the first half and 16-of-24 total. Senior Aaron Bodager and ASUN All-Freshman Team guard Garrett Sams drilled nine-of-11 from behind the line. Moore, Osborn Blount and Aaron Horne each added a pair of triples for North Florida, which led 45-32 at the half. “That was a tough mental hurdle for us,” Lipscomb head coach Casey Alexander said. “They played with great confidence; they got great shots; they buried shots. The hole that we got in was really tough to get out of.” Lipscomb did not lead at any point in the game. Though the Bisons keyed in on Moore — he scored 39 points at Allen Arena on Feb. 16 — the back-to-back ASUN Conference Player of the Year was able to find his teammates open behind the three-point line all night. North Florida head coach Matthew Driscoll lauded his star point guard’s ability to adapt to different defensive strategies. “He became more aggressive; he started going downhill more; he started going to the lane more to get into his floater game and get kick-outs,” Driscoll said. “Believe it or not, sometimes you have to tell these guys how special they really are.” Six of Moore’s seven assists led to made three-pointers. The teams traded baskets in the second half, with Lipscomb attempting to mount scoring runs...
