After dropping the first game of the series by seven runs, the Lipscomb softball team bounced back to take the series against Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday afternoon.
Florida Gulf Coast exploded for nine runs in game one of the series on Saturday, but the Lady Bisons (20-18, 5-4) outscored the Eagles 15-1 in the final two games.
Reigning Atlantic Sun Pitcher of the Week, Riley Randolph from FGCU, was able to stifle the Lipscomb hitters in game one, but the Lady Bisons found some success against her on Sunday.
“I think it is huge when we can make those adjustments,” Lipscomb head coach Kristin Ryman said. “Saturday night the girls watched their bats against Randolph. That was smart for them to see what she was throwing and what adjustments they needed to make this time around.”
At the plate, sophomore Abby Fenichel went four of eight at the plate with three RBIs and a homerun in Sunday’s win. Senior pitcher Kelly Young allowed just one run during the 13 innings she pitched, including allowing just one hit in Saturday’s win.
“I thought Kelly really did a nice job. We had some nice defensive plays behind her,” Ryman said. “Kelly is throwing with so much confidence right now. As coaches we know what kind of pitcher she is. She has really picked up steam and is trending upwards. She is throwing well and that is what we need.”
With the series win, the Lady Bisons move into a tie for second place in conference standings.
Ryman wants her team to keep playing with confidence in a conference she believes will remain very tight.
“Our feet have to stay on the gas,” Ryman said. “I don’t know if anyone in our league is going to run away with it. The pack is going to stay pretty tight and we want to be up at the top.”
Ryman knows what it is going to take to win in the conference and her team is also beginning to see that they will have to play their best every game.
“There is no series you can take lightly,” Ryman said. “There is no series where you can assume you are going to sweep. We are going to have to fight for every game and we are starting to realize that.”
The Lady Bisons return to Draper Diamond on Wednesday at 4 p.m. for a doubleheader against non-conference opponent Alabama-Birmingham.
Photo courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics