Coming off of a great performance against Stetson this past weekend, the Lipscomb baseball team hopes to keep the momentum going as it hosts the Atlantic Sun Conference Baseball Championship tournament this week at Ken Dugan Field.
No. 4 Lipscomb will battle it out at Dugan Field for its opening game against No. 3 Jacksonville at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
Coach Jeff Forehand said he is looking forward to having the home-field advantage. “It’s good anytime we get to play at home,” he said. “We’d hosted it here a few years ago, but we didn’t qualify for that tournament.”
This past weekend, Lipscomb had one of its best series’ performances, as the Bisons swept all three games against Stetson. Forehand said the team is “looking good,” and they’re hoping to continue their winning streak.
“It’s always nice to end the season on a good note like we did [at Stetson], and everyone is healthy,” Forehand said.
“Anytime you’re winning some games right after the other it’s great. We plan on using those wins against Stetson to our advantage.”
One of the players who will be key in bringing home a win against Jacksonville is sophomore Lee Solomon.
Solomon recently won the Atlantic Sun Baseball Player of the Week for his first time. Solomon is the team leader in multi-hit games with 21 this season.
In addition to Solomon, Forehand said there are several players to keep an eye on in the upcoming games.
“You can keep an eye on Adam Lee; he’s a senior. Lee Solomon has been playing really well, and Michael Gigliotti has been playing really well, too.” Lee was key in the series against Stetson, having three hits and three RBI in the second game. The Bisons swept Stetson 4-3, 9-1 and 6-1.
Forehand also said to watch for sophomore Brady Puckett, who they plan to pitch again in their opening game against Jacksonville in the A-Sun Championship tournament.
In Lipscomb’s last matchup against Jacksonville earlier this season, the Bisons took one of three in the weekend series, winning the last game in the series with Puckett on the mound. Puckett pitched well, allowing one run, making the final score 9-1. Gigliotti, a sophomore, and Lee, a senior, also swung the bat well.
The Bisons lost the first two games of that series 7-5 and 2-0.
For the 11 a.m. tourney opener, No. 1 Kennesaw State will face No. 6 Stetson, followed by No. 2 North Florida taking on No. 5 Florida Gulf Coast at 3 p.m.
The double-elimination tournament runs through Saturday.
Photo courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics