by Cory Woodroof | Feb 28, 2014 | News Slider, Sports
The Lady Bisons softball team came out swinging on a cold Thursday afternoon against down-the-street rival Belmont, posting a 13-0 victory at Rose Park. Junior right fielder Gracey Aguirre, senior shortstop Bridgette Begle and freshman second baseman Mimi Cartwright scored two runs apiece during the season’s Battle of the Boulevard. The win over the Bruins puts the Lady Bisons at 13-2. Aguirre said that scoring quickly is a big help. “I think we just need to continue hitting, because that’s what’s helping us out in the games,” Aguirre said. “We’re scoring early in the game, and we’re not letting down our guard.” After a one-run first inning, Lipscomb scored four runs in the third and six runs in the sixth. Senior catcher/infielder Rena’ Cothron went three-for-four with three RBIs. Aguirre and junior infielder Paige Neely each had a triple. Belmont (5-7) stranded eight baserunners against sophomore Tanner Sanders (5-1). The Lady Bisons begin their Atlantic Sun schedule this weekend in far-warmer Jacksonville against North Florida (14-3). “We just need to be aggressive and attack,” Aguirre said. “[North Florida is] known to have really good pitchers, so we just need to be ready, stay focused and continue hitting.” After the day’s original schedule was changed, another game between the two teams will be scheduled. File photo courtesy of Lipscomb...
by Erika Thornsberry | Feb 20, 2014 | News Slider, Sports
Top 25 is in reach for the Lady Bisons softball team as they moved up to No. 28 in the ESPN.COM/USA softball ranking. With the season just two weeks under way, the Lady Bisons have made their presence known with wins from Virginia Tech, Butler, Iowa, Drake, UAB and No. 15 Baylor. “It’s exciting to be ranked, and it honestly only motivates us that much more to continue to be the best,” senior catcher Rena’ Cothron said. Lipscomb found huge success when they traveled to Waco, Texas this past weekend to play in the Getterman Classic. Against Baylor, the Bisons won 1-0, which bumped the Bears from 14 down to 15. “So far, I think the season has gone great. 8-1 is a great start to a season, but it’s just that, a start,” Cothron said. “Every game we have won so far has been a complete team win. We just have to keep playing our game and take it one day at a time.” Junior Brianne Welch, junior Paige Neely (recently named Atlantic Sun Player of the Week) and sophomore Tanner Sanders made the Getterman Classic All-Tournament team. Welch found success during the tournament, as she had her first career home run against Iowa. “It feels pretty awesome being top 28,” Welch said. “It’s a great feeling to get recognition for the hard work we’ve put in.” Welch had a two run bomb against Iowa, but it was Sanders who was the winning pitcher. She was named A-Sun Pitcher of the Week for her performance in Texas. Junior Gracey Aguirre, who plays right field for the Lady Bisons,...
by Jesica Parsley | Feb 9, 2014 | News Slider, Sports
Senior Kristen Sturdivant’s walk-off home run gave the Lady Bisons a 2-1 victory over Virginia Tech Hokies on Sunday at Draper Diamond. Going into the bottom of the seventh inning, the game was tied 1-1. The Lady Bisons made solid contact the entire game but still needed a big hit. Sturdivant, the leadoff batter in the seventh, delivered. “My last at-bat, I was just trying to make up for my previous at-bat and learning from that mistake,” Sturdivant said. “I was looking for the outside pitch, and that’s what I got.” The first hit of the game came in the second inning. A solo home run by Virginia Tech Vanessa Gonzalez gave Tech the 1-0 lead. Lipscomb junior Brianne Welch led off the third inning with a double to left center field. A sacrifice bunt by Lipscomb sophomore Brittany Elmore moved Welch over to third base. Welch then scored on a wild pitch to even the game at 1-1. Tech threatened in the fifth with its redshirt sophomore Katey Smith earning a lead off walk. Tech junior Lauren Gaskill was hit by a pitch, and then Tech senior Kat Banks was walked to load the bases. Lipscomb sophomore Tanner Sanders got out of the inning when Tech junior Kylie McGoldrick lined out to third base. Tech’s Kelly Heinz retired 10 straight batters after Welch scored. She is now 1-1 in the circle this season allowing just two hits, two runs (one earned) with two walks and seven strikeouts in the loss to the Lady Bisons. Sanders picked up the win and complete game, allowing one run on just two hits with...
by Carter Sanderson | Feb 7, 2014 | Sports
You can hear them now. The loud chants from the dugout of a softball field are right around the corner as the team gets ready for another season under head coach Kristin Ryman. The Lady Bison softball team has worked hard in the off season after a tremendous effort last year and have high hopes as they start to prepare for the new season ahead. The team dusted off the gloves and shined the bats earlier in the semester for their upcoming season as Monday, Jan. 13, marked the first official day. “Right now, we’re getting a lot of hitting trying to work around the weather,” said assistant coach Megan Smith. “The field has been a little bit wet, but we’ve been able to get outside.” The Atlantic Sun conference schedule starts a week earlier this year, which eliminates the opportunity to play in a lot of additional tournaments, so the Lady Bisons will play a bit of a shorter schedule than the usual tournament run. The team has spent most of their first week in McQuiddy Gym due to the weather and the fields being wet; however, Smith says she is pleased with the work they are able to get in. “We’re trying to do some of those little things that we need to finish right before we get going and really don’t have time to work mechanics,” Smith said. Ryman also chimed in and said she expects another tough A-Sun season with the top teams in the conference returning the majority of their players, and Smith is excited about who the Lady Bisons have coming back as...
