by Brittnay Estes | Apr 27, 2016 | News Slider, Sports
The Lipscomb baseball team lost 4-3 against Western Kentucky University Tuesday night at Ken Dugan Field. It was a back and forth game, but runners left on base and hitting mistakes late in the game cost Lipscomb the win. The Hilltoppers scored early in the second inning starting off with a double from Steven Kraft. A fake bunt from Harrison Scanlon moved Kraft to third, before Paul Murray hit a flair single to right field to score Kraft. The Bisons gained momentum in the bottom of the third inning on Lee Solomon’s solo homerun. In the top of the sixth inning, a single by Western Kentucky’s Kraft turned into what would be déjà vu for Lipscomb. Scanlon hit a double to right field, and Murray followed up with a two-run RBI single, making it 4-3. Lipscomb made seven pitching changes throughout the night making Western Kentucky unable to get comfortable in the seventh through the ninth innings. “If you look at how they scored and how we scored, they had three hits after two quick outs to score in the sixth, and we left men in scoring position with opportunities,” head coach Jeff Forehand said. The pitching staff combined allowed one walk and had eight strike outs. “Defensively, that’s the kind of game we are looking for,” Solomon said. “We had some good plays — we just have to execute, get counts and put people away. We can’t leave pitches over the plate. I think that’s what really hurt us tonight.” The Bisons fall 20-21 on the season. Michael Gigliotti is still out with a hand injury and will not...
by KJ Lauck | Apr 27, 2016 | News Slider, Sports
The Lipscomb Lady Bisons’ (25-24) strong bats run-ruled the Tennessee State Tigers (10-40) 10-1 Tuesday evening at Draper Diamond at Smith Stadium. Lipscomb put on its annual “Think Pink” and “Strike Out” cancer fundraiser. All proceeds went to cancer research and allowed the Lady Bisons to sport their pink tops for the game. In the first inning, freshman Mandy Jordan got rolling early and struck out the side to start for Lipscomb. “I thought Mandy had a great first inning to set the tone,” head coach Kristin Ryman said. The Lady Bisons’ offense helped her by drawing three walks and collecting four hits that turned into five runs and a commanding 5-0 lead. One of those hits was by freshman Malorie Giere, who hit a shot off the wall that scored three of those early runs for Lipscomb. Senior Dee Baddley made a leaping grab to steal a homerun from Danica Gleason and record the last out of the top of the third. “We’ve talked so much this year about staying in attack mode, not just offensively but defensively too,” Ryman said. Caitlin Plocheck got the bottom of the inning started by smashing a solo homer to add another run for Lipscomb to increase the lead to 6-0. “She’s [Plocheck] been in a real groove,” Ryman said. “Having Plocheck doing what she’s doing right now is such a key for our lineup.” Freshman Abi Stephens got the Tigers on the board with a solo homerun of her own in the top of the fourth inning, cutting the lead to 6-1. “One of things we’re trying to work on with her is...
by Danielle Kinnen | Apr 22, 2016 | News Slider, Sports
For the first time since 2013, the Lipscomb men’s tennis team will compete in the Atlantic-Sun quarterfinals Friday in Spartanburg, South Carolina. “The conference season started slow but has finished well with two conference wins at the end,” said Coach Mario Hernandez. “I am proud of how the guys stayed mentally tough when we were struggling at the start of the conference.” Hernandez said he hopes the Bisons will continue their two match conference winning streak as they go into the championship as the No. 5 seed. “As long as individually we do what we need to do and play within ourselves we will be fine,” said senior John Tougher. “We must stay together from the first to the last ball and bring a lot of energy.” The Lipscomb men’s team will play against the hosts USC Upstate on Friday at 8 a.m. where the winners will take on top-seed FGCU. “We have played a very hard schedule and have learned a lot this year,” Tougher said. “We will use the tough matches to push through the last portion of conference strong.” The Spartans have beaten the Bisons on their last five meets, including a 6-1 defeat at home in Nashville. However, the team has seen improvements in the last couple of weeks and Hernandez said he hopes they take the momentum into this weekend. “I expect the guys to be excited and to fight extremely hard tomorrow,” Hernandez said. “These opportunities don’t come around everyday, so you have to be prepared to take your opportunities when they come.” On top of a successful season, the Bisons made All-Conference...
by Todd Lamberth | Apr 21, 2016 | News Slider, Sports
The Lipscomb softball team used strong pitching and a four run first inning to take the 6-0 win over Murray State on Wednesday at Draper Diamond. In her first career start McCarley Thomas allowed just four hits on her way to a complete game shutout. The junior pitched four no-hit innings to start the game before surrendering her first hit to the first batter of the fifth inning. “McCarley, certainly, great performance out of her,” Lipscomb head coach Kristin Ryman said. “It was exactly what we needed in a midweek to get a big performance out of someone who maybe hasn’t had as much time. Really, really proud of what she did tonight.” Despite only having two strikeouts, Ryman said she liked the way her pitcher was able to gets outs and stay composed on the mound. “She only had two strikeouts but was still extremely effective,” Ryman said. “When you don’t have many strikeouts but are still able to be effective. She’s worked so hard to get to this point.” The top of the order boosted Lipscomb’s offense as their first two hitters, Brittany Elmore and Destinee Brewer, reached base a combined six times, scoring three runs. Lipscomb (23-22, 7-8) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning as they sent 10 batters to the plate. With a big lead after the first inning, Thomas was able to pitch with confidence the rest of the night. “Any pitcher, whether it’s their first start or not, that’s going to be a huge relief to you,” Ryman said. “For her especially, I think any nerves she did have...
by Charlie Bateman | Apr 17, 2016 | News Slider, Sports
The Bisons lost to the Jacksonville Dolphins 7-5 Friday and 2-0 Saturday, but they charged their way to victory 9-1 in the final game of the series Sunday afternoon at Ken Dugan Field at Stephen L. Marsh Stadium. In the first game, Lipscomb fell 7-5 to Jacksonville, on a ninth inning home-run by right fielder Austin Hays to give the Dolphins the victory. The big hit for Lipscomb in the game came from senior Chucky Vazquez with a two run home-run. The second game for the Bisons ended in 2-0 loss to Jacksonville. Another late inning rally by the Dolphins in the eighth, thanks to a single and an error, led to the two runs by Jacksonville. This is the first game that Lipscomb has been shutout in conference play this year. Lipscomb’s bats were on fire in the final game of the series as they won 9-1. The Bisons recorded 11 hits in the game. Lipscomb scored six of their nine runs in the fourth inning and batted through the order. “I believe our hitters are capable of doing this each game,” said Lipscomb head baseball coach Jeff Forehand. “Hitting is tough, especially when Jacksonville has very good pitching.” Vazquez continued his hitting at the plate in this game as he had three RBI’s on the day. This included another two-run home-run and a sac fly. “He [Vazquez] is a good hitter that has recently had bad luck,” Forehand said. “He had great at-bats, which led to a solid game for him today at the plate.” In the final game of the series, sophomore Brady Puckett pitched his fourth...
by Charlie Bateman | Apr 10, 2016 | News Slider, Sports
The Lipscomb baseball team took two of three games against USC Upstate in this weekend’s series at Ken Dugan Field at Stephen L. Marsh Stadium in Nashville. The Bisons fell 7-6 to USC in the first matchup, but came back with a 7-6 win Saturday afternoon and a 5-4 win Sunday. In the first game, Lipscomb fell to the Spartans 7-6. The big hit for the Bisons came on a home run by sophomore Allan Hooker. This home run was his first of the year. Lipscomb had a chance at a rally thanks to a balk by the Spartans’ pitcher that put Lipscomb only behind by one. The rally came up short as Lipscomb was unable to drive a runner home from third to tie the game. The second game for the Bisons ended in a walk-off hit by freshman Zeke Dodson in the bottom of the tenth to put the score at 7-6. Hooker also got his second home run of the year in the game. “He [Hooker] has been working hard on his swing,” said Lipscomb head baseball coach Jeff Forehand. “Hooker took advantage of good pitches to hit. We know that Hooker is very capable of hitting home runs, and I am proud of what he has been able to do at the plate.” The Bisons took the third game 5-4 on another walk-off from Dodson. “It is always great to have the winning hit,” Dodson said. “I can’t say enough about my teammates putting me in a great spot — I was just fortunate to be in the right spot both times.” With this series...
