Top 25 is in reach for the Lady Bisons softball team as they moved up to No. 28 in the ESPN.COM/USA softball ranking.
With the season just two weeks under way, the Lady Bisons have made their presence known with wins from Virginia Tech, Butler, Iowa, Drake, UAB and No. 15 Baylor.
“It’s exciting to be ranked, and it honestly only motivates us that much more to continue to be the best,” senior catcher Rena’ Cothron said.
Lipscomb found huge success when they traveled to Waco, Texas this past weekend to play in the Getterman Classic. Against Baylor, the Bisons won 1-0, which bumped the Bears from 14 down to 15.
“So far, I think the season has gone great. 8-1 is a great start to a season, but it’s just that, a start,” Cothron said. “Every game we have won so far has been a complete team win. We just have to keep playing our game and take it one day at a time.”
Junior Brianne Welch, junior Paige Neely (recently named Atlantic Sun Player of the Week) and sophomore Tanner Sanders made the Getterman Classic All-Tournament team. Welch found success during the tournament, as she had her first career home run against Iowa.
“It feels pretty awesome being top 28,” Welch said. “It’s a great feeling to get recognition for the hard work we’ve put in.”
Welch had a two run bomb against Iowa, but it was Sanders who was the winning pitcher. She was named A-Sun Pitcher of the Week for her performance in Texas.
Junior Gracey Aguirre, who plays right field for the Lady Bisons, has a very positive outlook on how this year will continue to go.
“Knowing that we are ranked has fueled a fire in all of us as a team,” Aguirre said. “This is just the start. If we continue to play the way we are or better yet play better, imagine how good we will be at the end of the year. We can only go up from here.”
Along with ESPN.COM/USA, there were many different polls with Lipscomb among the ranks. College Sports Madness had Lipscomb at No. 25, and the NFCA poll had them at 27.
“I think it’s so cool that a private school like us can be recognized nationally. We have a very talented group,” Aguirre said. “I think we can do big things and set some school records if we continue to stay ‘locked in’.”
The Lady Bisons are set to travel to Southaven, Miss., to participate in the Blues City Classic this upcoming weekend. The team is set to take on Appalachian State, Evansville, Southeastern Missouri, Missouri State and Murray State.
The team’s Battle of the Boulevard game is at Belmont on Feb. 26.
Photo courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics