by Erika Plunkett | May 11, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
Twenty-one hours and two weather delays after it began, the Lipscomb softball team emerged the victors in the ASUN softball quarterfinal matchup against North Alabama. Senior Mandy Jordan was on the mound all 12 innings, totaling 137 pitches, but letting no Lions score. Due to inclement weather coming into the area, the ASUN elected to move all of Thursday’s tournament games up by an hour and a half, but not even the ASUN was prepared for the pitching duel between Jordan and North Alabama junior Megan Garst. Nine innings into this Thursday morning matchup, Garst and Jordan had combined to allow only nine hits, and the score remained 0-0. In the top of the 10th, with two UNA outs and a runner on base, lightning forced the suspension of the game. Shortly over 50 minutes later the game resumed. Although the delay was inconvenient, it caused no problems for either pitcher. Both pitchers returned to the mound without skipping a beat, extending the game into the 12th inning. In the bottom of the 12th, the Bisons finally had a runner in scoring position with the opportunity for a walk-off win, but Mother Nature was not ready for this game to end yet. More thunderstorms rolled into Ft. Myers, pushing the rest of the game until Friday morning. Thursday’s portion of the game lasted 9 1/2 hours, and it included 330 pitches. Friday, all it took was one pitch. Just a few minutes after 7 a.m. Central, senior Sarah Higgins’ single drove Hannah DeVault home and advanced the Bisons to the next round. The Bisons’ day was not over yet....
by Erika Plunkett | May 9, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
After sweeping FGCU and laying claim to the ASUN regular season title last weekend, reigning ASUN pitcher of the week, senior Mandy Jordan leads her Lady Bisons back to Ft. Myers for the 2019 ASUN Softball Tournament. In Thursday’s doubleheader, seniors Jenna Pealor and Graysen Gladden and juniors Hannah Devault and Peyton Ward batted in four runs. Errors by the Eagles allowed two more Bisons to score. Jordan was the player of the night as she pitched all seven innings in the first game shutout and got the save in the 4-2 game two win, allowing zero runs and only two hits. Although the Bisons clinched a bye in the ASUN tournament with Thursday’s victories, it was Friday’s win that proved all-important, giving the Bisons their first regular-season ASUN title since 2010. Jordan once again was the hero, pitching the entire game that went into extra innings. This was her second shutout of the series as the Bisons came away with a 1-0 victory over FGCU off of a DeVault RBI in the 10th inning, edging out Liberty for the top-seed in the ASUN tournament. Not only are the Lady Bisons the regular-season champions, but the ASUN named coach Kristin Ryman and DeVault the ASUN Coach of the Year and the ASUN Player of the Year respectively. DeVault also was honored with the ASUN Defensive Player of the Year award. In addition, senior Sarah Higgins, DeVault and Gladden represented Lipscomb on the ASUN’s all-conference first team, while Jordan and senior Jordan Fortel were named to the ASUN’s all-conference second team. Freshman Amy Vetula and freshman Katie Turner received...
by Erin Franklin | May 3, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
Lauren Sumski says she’s always been the “baby” in the room. The new head coach for Lipscomb women’s basketball is only 27 years old — making her one of the youngest coaches in Division I right now. She was the youngest head coach in Division III when she coached at Rhodes right before the move to Lipscomb. As I sat down with Sumski to hear her thoughts on her new role, she recalled this trend in her life, reflecting back to when she was an eighth-grader playing on the varsity team. Not only was she just playing on the team as a middle schooler, but she was serving as varsity captain. And again, at age 13, she played on a 17U team while still in middle school. She jokingly added she still even has trouble getting a rental car sometimes since companies don’t think she looks old enough. “When I was in middle school, I was playing up,” Sumski recalled. “I was playing 17-and-under basketball when I was 13. So all of my teammates were just a lot older than me. They had a lot different interests than me, and I was just the baby of the group.” But she said she thinks God has blessed her with a special maturity to be able to relate to those older than her. This, coupled with her natural intelligence (in college, she was accepted to medical school in Memphis before deciding to pursue coaching), has come in handy as she’s often stepped up to serve in roles typically reserved for those older. Throughout her life, she’s been able to develop this intergenerational openness,...
by Charissa Ricker | May 1, 2019 | News Slider, Sports, Student Spotlight
Jordan Fortel is no stranger to overcoming obstacles in her softball career, but despite her unconventional journey to Lipscomb and her recent injuries, she continues to pull through for her team as both a hitter and pitcher. Fortel is halfway through her senior season at Lipscomb and is leading the team in multiple-hit games, hitting streaks and a reached base streak of 35. “This season has been great so far,” Fortel said. “I think we’ve gotten off to a really great start, and I’m excited to see where we go from here.” Her college softball career has been nothing shy of success. She was named 2017 TCCAA Pitcher of the Year and D1 Softball and ASUN Pitcher of the week for her no-hitter game against Ole Miss last year. She has quickly become a key player for the team, but she hasn’t always been a Bison. “Lipscomb is actually the third school that I’ve attended,” Fortel said.” I’ve only been here since last year when I transferred. I kind of had some connections here, and it just worked out. It’s been a good journey.” After attending the University of Tennessee Chattanooga for a year, Fortel moved closer to her home in Greenville to attend Walter State. “I was led by the Lord to leave UTC, and it just wasn’t working out,” Fortel said. “I’ve ended up in a lot better situations.” She grew up playing travel softball with junior Hannah Duvalt, and with only one year of eligibility at Walter State, Fortel made the move to Lipscomb. “This community is just so much different than communities I’ve been a...
by George Wong | Apr 25, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
Lipscomb University’s own athletic Grammy Awards, the Lippys, commenced Wednesday on its usual night before Study Day. The annual event commemorates the achievements of Lipscomb’s athletes on and off the field. It was a night of fun and glamor as every student-athlete came together dressed formally in the heart of Allen Arena. Hors d’oeuvres, fondue for dessert and refreshments were on the menu, while everyone took pictures before the award ceremony hosted by head volleyball coach Brandon Rosenthal. Students also joined in on co-hosting and pleasantries throughout the evening. The Lippys were founded by the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and past track and field athlete April Terry. Over the past few years the Lippys staff, run primarily by student-athletes, has continually sought improvement of the event. “There were nomination surveys sent out to all the athletes this year,” SAAC president Ahmed Amaar said. “This form is what we are basing the voting ballot off of, so if people wanted to nominate someone for the awards listed, that was their chance. “Changing the awards system to give every single [athlete a] voice this year — besides that we are just trying to make it [a] more inclusive event. I think the day after the Lippys no one really cares or remembers about the awards — what they remember is the memories they made and the feeling of togetherness. It’s rare to have the entirety of Lipscomb Athletics together, and so sharing that moment is what makes it the best.” A feedback survey for improvements was emailed out after the event as well. “This year was a more sit-down style instead...
by Russell Vannozzi | Apr 25, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
The last few weeks brought plenty of change to the Lipscomb men’s basketball program. But one of the team’s steady leaders is staying put. Associate head coach Roger Idstrom will remain on staff, new Lipscomb coach Lennie Acuff announced in his introductory press conference Wednesday. “A big for part for me in taking over the job is that I felt like we needed someone that had been here,” Acuff said. “The more I talked to people, there was no doubt that Roger Idstrom needed to be a part of our staff. “Roger’s a good man and a really good basketball coach, and he’s had an awful lot to do with [Lipscomb’s] success. I really thought he’d make our transition a lot smoother.” Idstrom served as Lipscomb’s interim coach after Casey Alexander departed for Belmont. He talked with recruits, worked on next year’s schedule and kept tabs on the players, even while his own future was up in the air. “Yeah it’s crazy, and it’s been stressful,” he said. “It’s probably been more stressful for my wife and family, just the unknown part of it. But really for me, it’s been focusing on the day-to-day of this program and making sure that our guys are doing what they need to be doing in the classroom.” The 1989 Mars Hill College graduate has also served on the staffs at his alma mater, UNC Asheville, Montreat, Wabash Valley College, Gardner-Webb and Stetson. Idstrom followed Alexander to Lipscomb in 2013 to become associate head coach. Idstrom’s presence brings a welcomed familiarity for Lipscomb’s current players. Rising senior guard Michael Buckland said he is thrilled Idstrom...
