by Hunter Patterson | Jul 18, 2010 | News Slider, Sports
Coach Scott Sanderson has proven in his time as the head coach of the Lipscomb Bisons that he is not afraid of assembling a challenging schedule. He may have outdone himself this year as the Bisons are scheduled to play North Carolina, Baylor, Alabama and Memphis. Rounding out the non-conference opponents are Austin Peay, Tennessee Tech, Stillman College and Tennessee-Martin. Only two of the non-conference games will be played at home. The other seven are on the road. “I thought last year when we played Ohio State, Vanderbilt, Cincinnati and Arizona was the toughest schedule we had ever played,” Sanderson said. “This one is tougher than that one. There are no easy games on our schedule. “It’s not even close. It is even more demanding than last year. But I have always tried to schedule according to our talent level that we have coming back. You can bury a team with this type of schedule. It should be very challenging for us.” The Bisons will open the regular season in Chapel Hill Nov. 12. They will play Baylor, expected to be a top 5 to top 10 team, in Waco, Texas Nov. 22. “North Carolina had a down year last year based on their standards as a top five to top 10 team year in and year out,” Sanderson said. “There will be a lot of publicity on that game.” The final game before Christmas break will be Dec. 21 at Tuscaloosa against Alabama. The Bisons will be in Memphis Dec. 30 to take on the Tigers. “All these games give you notoriety that you can’t buy,” Sanderson said....
by Hunter Patterson | May 25, 2010 | Sports
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — There were tears. Lots of tears. Hugs abounded. There was a prayer circle and one last speech from Lipscomb Lady Bisons’ coach Kristin Ryman. And before they left the field Sunday at the Alabama Softball Complex there also were some smiles. The Lady Bisons didn’t win the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional, but they advanced to the finals, losing to Alabama’s Crimson Tide 6-0 in front of more than 2,100 fans. It was the first trip to an NCAA Regional for the Lipscomb softball team, which won both the Atlantic Sun Conference regular season and tournament titles. “Overall, I am extremely proud of our team with the fight and the resiliency they have shown all weekend,” Ryman said. “This is the closest any Lipscomb softball team has ever been, and I think that is in large part due to our seniors and what they have done in leading this team. “I don’t think we ever came into this postseason wanting to just be happy to be here. I think we came in wanting to win it. We knew that was going to be an extremely tough task, but that’s what we were here for. These girls never stopped from an effort standpoint and I couldn’t be more proud of them.” In the Saturday, May 22, 5-2 win over the Lady Bisons, Alabama relied on bunts and infield hits to produce runs. The next day home runs made the difference with four of the six runs coming off of three home runs. “They beat us with their short game Saturday and today they came out and relied on the long ball,”...
by Hunter Patterson | May 22, 2010 | News Slider, Sports
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama Crimson Tide (50-9) beat the Lipscomb Lady Bisons 5-2, to close out game three of the NCAA Softball Tuscaloosa Regional. Alabama got out to an early lead, piling on three runs in the first inning against the NCAA ERA leader Whitney Kiihnl. The Tide then tacked on a run in both the fourth and fifth innings while Lipscomb scored runs in the fifth and sixth innings to narrow the gap. UA freshman Kayla Braud paced the Tide at the plate, collecting two hits and pushing her regional total to five. Junior Kelsi Dunne (28-4) earned her 15th straight win by allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits. The right-hander struck out 10 and walked one. Kiihnl was tagged with just her fourth loss of the season, allowing five runs, two earned, in four innings of work. Lipscomb returns to action today at 6:30 p.m. against the winner of this afternoon’s UAB-Alcorn State game which is slated to get underway at 4:30 p.m. The winner of the 6:30 p.m. game will face Alabama Sunday at 1:30...
by Hunter Patterson | May 21, 2010 | Uncategorized
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. _ No matter how much the Lipscomb Lady Bisons tried to act like it was just another game there were more than enough jitters to go around before the facing UAB in the first round of the NCAA Regional at the Alabama Softball Complex. It was the first NCAA Regional appearance for both Lipscomb and UAB. Lady Bisons coach Kristin Ryman had stressed the need to take control of the game early in an effort to chase away the nerves. The Lady Bisons had split a doubleheader with UAB April 20, winning 1-0 and losing 7-5. They scored one run in the first, two in the second and added another in the fifth on the way to a 4-1 win over UAB from Conference-USA.. “I couldn’t be more proud of the way we came out and jumped on them early,” Ryman said. “Any time we score first it takes the pressure off. It definitely takes the pressure off our pitcher, Whitney Kiihnl. “There are always some nerves that are present when you’re playing in your first Regional. We were familiar with UAB already which was a good thing going in. I’m just glad we walked away with a win in our first game.” The Lady Bisons will face Alabama, the regional host and No. 1 seed, Saturday at 1:30. The Crimson Tide is 49-9 and advanced by beating Alcorn State Friday night 9-0 in a game called in the fifth inning due to the eight-run lead rule. Alcorn State, from the Southwestern Athletic Conference, finished its season with a 24-25 record. Kiihnl, a sophomore, struck out 11...
by Hunter Patterson | May 11, 2010 | News Slider, Sports
The Lipscomb Lady Bisons’ domination of the Atlantic Sun Conference continues. Sophomore pitcher Whitney Kiihnl was named conference Player of the Year and was the unanimous choice as conference Pitcher of the Year by a vote of A-Sun coaches and sports information directors. Lady Bisons coach Kristin Ryman, who has guided the Lady Bisons to the A-Sun regular season championship, was named A-Sun Coach of the Year. She also won the award in 2008 when the Lady Bisons tied for the regular season title. Kiihnl has a 28 wins overall and is 11-0 in A-Sun games. She has five shutouts, including a perfect game against Austin Peay Feb. 26. She was a five-time A-Sun Pitcher of the Week this season. “I am so happy for Whitney,” Ryman said. “She has put together an unbelievable year both in the circle and at the plate. I couldn’t be more proud of her. “With as many good players as we have, she still stands out. I think she is very deserving of both awards, and I think it is cool that the coaches in the A-Sun think the same way. Whitney is truly one of the most well-respected players in our league. I think the most exciting thing for us is that we get her for two more years.” She has been the leader nationally in NCAA Division I in earned run average for most of the season with a .71. Kiihnl also doubled as a designated player this season, batting .361, fourth highest overall in the A-Sun. “She has done it all for us this year,” Ryman said. “She is obviously...
