The Lady Bisons secured an 8-3 victory over the Tennessee Tech Eagles in their first meet of the season.
The in-state, non-conference matchup tonight was played at Lipscomb’s Draper Diamond in Nashville, Tennessee. It was a tale of two pitchers with Lipscomb getting the better end of it..
Lipscomb pitcher Megan Gray started off the game with three strikeouts in-a-row to cap off a very impressive first inning. Then after an uneventful bottom of the first inning, Tennessee Tech took an early lead after Gray gave up a two-run homer to left center.
This would pretty much be Gray’s only mishap of the evening as she stayed on the mound for all seven innings. She went on to strikeout an impressive seven batters while only allowing three runs in the process to finish off a stellar performance.
As for Tennessee Tech’s pitching, it was almost the opposite. Tech struggled the most in the third inning with three runs allowed. Pitcher Alyssa Arden only lasted four innings before getting pulled, giving up six runs. The Eagles finished off the evening with Kayla Hughes on the mound, who only gave up two runs in two innings.
Luckily for the Lady Bisons, it wasn’t long after a home run that they woke up in the third inning.
After a strikeout to start the bottom of the second inning, Jenna Pealor hit a nice double to left centerfield to place herself in prime scoring position. Later, after an error on a beautiful line drive from Destinee Brewer, Gladden and Pealor would both score, tying the game up at two to end the inning.
The Lady Bisons played their best softball in the third inning as they strengthened the grip on the Eagles. Lipscomb started off the bottom of the third inning with Khayla Green and Jordan Fortel getting walked back-to-back.
But Green got caught out at third after attempting to make it under the tag after a single from Katie Turner, allowing Fortel to advance to second base. Jenna Pealor would then set up the best play of the night with a double to put Tuner and herself in scoring position. Fortel scored, making it 3-2 Lipscomb.
Graysen Gladden nailed an absolute laser to right center, splitting both the center and right fielder to bring in Turner and Pealor to score. Lipscomb ended the explosive third inning for the Bisons 5-2. Gladden finished off her incredible night with three RBIs and three hits with no strikeouts.
Photo courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics