Senior night is always a special time for a team, but for Lipscomb’s softball team it was that much sweeter. Having a senior-led team, the women celebrated seven of their 20 players.
Pitchers Ashley Anderson and Heather Parker, catcher Rena’ Cothron, shortstop Bridgette Begle, first basemen Kristen Sturdivant, right fielder Kelsey Cartwright and designated hitter Haley Elliot make up the senior class.
“The standards are high, and the bar was raised for this team this year,” head coach Kristin Ryman said. “We have played so well this year.”
The Lady Bisons took the sweep against Northern Kentucky this past weekend. They won the first game in a run-rule fashion 10-0, the second game 6-0 and on senior night won 6-3.
This series may have been the seniors’ last, but it had a lot of firsts for them. Anderson was the winning pitcher in game one pitching her first no- hitter in her college career.
“I wasn’t even paying attention; I didn’t even know until after the game because I was just thinking about how well we were hitting,” Anderson said.
Begle hit her first grand-slam in her career with two outs in the fourth inning. Also in game one Heather Parker got her first hit of the season.
“The seniors are a really special group. There’s not too many classes that are that big that you can say every single one of them are a key contributor to the team,” Ryman said. “They are a very unique group, five of them have been together for the long haul, and then we added Kelsey Cartwright and Heather Parker who transferred in.”
The Lady Bisons have improved their record to 39-11 overall and 18-8 in the Atlantic Sun conference. Anderson was the winning pitcher in game one, Tanner Sanders in game two and Parker got the final win in game 3. Junior Brianne Welch was a big contributor in game three as she had a two-run homerun in game three, and sophomore Madison Wray made her first ever appearance at first base.
“It has meant a lot to be a Lady Bison for four years; I love being here,” Cothron said. “We are going at it; we have a week and half till conference to rest and get better to prepare us for the tournament.”
The Lady Bisons ended their regular season against NKU, but they still have unfinished business in the conference tournament, which will be played on Draper Diamond at Smith Stadium.
“It has been really great; all seven of us have been super close. It’s been great to see your best friends grow and see how everyone has gotten better,” Anderson said.
The conference tournament starts Wednesday May 7. Currently Lipscomb is 3 in the conference and No. 28 in RPI.
“They are a tight-knit group; that’s what makes them so special. We really are a family,” Ryman said.