The Lipscomb Bisons fell in extra innings to the Appalachian State Mountaineers 9-5 on Friday.

The Bisons got off to a quick start, scoring a run in the first inning. As for the defense, junior Max Habegger got the start for the Bisons and pitched a shutout through the first 3 innings.

In the bottom of the third, the Bisons piled on by adding another four runs to increase their lead to 5-0.

Habegger would lose his shutout in the top of the fourth off a sacrifice fly to bring the Mountaineers within four. However, Habegger would bounce back by pitching a scoreless fifth inning to maintain the Bisons 5-1 lead.

The Mountaineers would fight back with a dominant sixth inning, scoring three runs, all with two outs, to bring them within one. They managed to add another run in the seventh to tie the game at 5-5.

Sophomore closer Tyler Guilfoil came in to stop the bleeding for the Bisons and pitched four scoreless innings.

The Bisons failed to score in the bottom of the seventh, which sent the game into extra innings. Both teams would then go scoreless through the eighth, ninth and tenth innings.

In the top of the eleventh, App State’s bats were hot, and they were able to drive in four to take a commanding 9-5 lead.

The Bisons were unable to score in the bottom of the eleventh, falling to the Mountaineers 9-5.

After falling Friday in extras, the Bisons bounced back Saturday as junior pitcher Dylan Bierman took the mound and only allowed two runs in his seven innings of work, getting the win for the Bisons 4-2. 

But it was the Mountaineers who drew first blood scoring a run off of a home run from junior infielder Luke Drumheller taking a 1-0 lead.

The Bisons quickly responded with a groundout from junior infielder Malik Williams that brought home freshman outfielder Tiger Borom to even the score at one. 

Both teams would stay quiet until the fifth inning when a fielder’s choice brought home junior outfielder Maddux Houghton and Malik Williams added two more RBI as Borom and sophomore infielder Robbie Merced scored. 

Drumheller tried to give the Mountaineers another chance with a sacrifice RBI in the eighth, cutting the Bisons’ lead to two, but it was too little too late as the Bisons evened the series at one a piece. 

In Sunday’s rubber match, the Bisons were unable to win the series despite late inning offense and fell 4-3. 

Freshman Patrick Williams pitched a scoreless game until the fourth inning when junior catcher Hayden Cross grounded out to bring home senior outfielder Kendall McGowan, giving the Mountaineers the 1-0 advantage. 

Sophomore JT Caver would come on in relief of Patrick Williams, and in his inning and a third of work, a groundout from Drumheller brought home a run credited to Patrick Williams, who had allowed on senior infielder Bailey Welch early in the fifth inning. 

Cross and Drumheller would both add on a run for the Mountaineers in the eighth and ninth innings extending App State’s lead to four. 

Down to two outs, the Bisons would finally get on the scoreboard with an RBI single from Borom that brought home senior infielder David Graves, cutting the lead to three.

Merced would strike out, giving the Bisons just one more chance when Malik Williams came to the plate and gave the Bisons some hope with a two-RBI double that cut the lead to just one run for App State.

But junior infielder Chris Bashlor would be thrown out at first to end the game and the series for the Bisons.

Lipscomb returns to action Wednesday playing host to their crosstown rival Belmont Bruins.

Photo courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics. 

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