The Lipscomb Lady Bisons softball team was eliminated from the Atlantic Sun Softball Championship Thursday evening at Draper Diamond at Smith Stadium.
The 3-0 loss to USC Upstate that ended the tourney for the Lady Bisons was the end of a scoreless day for the home team.
Earlier Thursday, the Lady Bisons lost their first game of the tournament to the Stetson Hatters 2-0.
That struggle began with senior pitcher Ashley Anderson walking in a run in the first inning.
The Lady Bisons had a chance to answer when junior infielder Paige Neely got a single in the bottom of the inning but was left stranded.
The next runner to cross the plate did not come until the fifth inning.
Stetson junior infielder Demi Meza and senior pitcher/infielder Meredith Owen earned back-to-back walks. Meza and Owen were bunted over by sophomore infielder Kayla Drury. Meza scored on a sacrifice fly from junior utility player Amanda Grimaldo to give the Hatters a 2-0 lead.
The Lady Bisons scattered six hits in the losing effort.
Anderson picked up the loss. Her record fell to 19-5. Owen picked up the victory for the Hatters, improving her record to 24-7.
Lipscomb head coach Kristin Ryman said she was not expecting the morning to end like it did.
“I thought we came out in good spirits,” Ryman said. “We struggled to adjust to the strike zone early in the game. It’s frustrating to come into a game expecting to start one way and not have that happen.”
The offensive struggles continued for the Lady Bisons Thursday evening in game two against USC Upstate.
Upstate got on the board first in the third when junior infielder Kendall Settlemyre knocked a two-run home run to put Upstate up 2-0.
Lipscomb threatened in the fourth with Neely and senior infielder Kristen Sturdivant both hitting singles.
Lipscomb sophomore pitcher Tanner Sanders came in to relieve Anderson in the third inning. Sanders walked senior outfielder/catcher Erin Schattle in the sixth inning. Junior outfielder Aly Schneider hit a RBI double to score Schattle to give Upstate the 3-0 lead after six innings.
Lipscomb senior catcher/infielder Haley Elliott got a single in the seventh to keep the hopes alive, but the Lady Bisons failed to get the run across.
The Lady Bisons finished the regular season and tournament 39-13. Lipscomb’s success could qualify the team for the NCAA tournament.
The 64-team field will be announced Sunday night. So now the Lady Bisons have to wait to see if they will be packing for the NCAAs or packing for home.
Photo courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics