by Jesica Parsley | Mar 6, 2014 | News Slider, Sports
The Lady Bisons softball team swept Ohio University Wednesday afternoon at Draper Diamond. Game one was pretty quiet until the fourth inning. Ohio University sophomore infielder Alexia Cortez reached on an error then stole second. Cortez scored on a throwing error to give the Bobcats a 1-0 lead. The Lady Bisons had a couple of hits through five innings, but the game-changing hit came in the sixth. Junior outfielder/infielder Gracey Aguirre got walked. Senior infielder Kristen Sturdivant hit a two-run homerun over the left center field fence to give the Lipscomb the 2-1 lead. “We knew we were going to have to make adjustments throughout the game, and I knew going up to the plate, with Gracey on base, it was my time to step up,” Sturdivant said. The Bobcats threatened in the seventh inning. Ohio’s senior infielder Alexandria Basquez got a leadoff single and then was bunted over to second. Sophomore pitcher Savannah Jo Dorsey hit a single to center field. Lipscomb’s outfielder/infielder Brittany Elmore threw the tying run out at the plate. Ohio’s junior outfielder Dakota Pyles singled to load the bases with two outs. Lipscomb pitcher Ashley Anderson got a strikeout to end the game. Anderson remains unbeaten with a 7-0 record and finished the game with seven strikeouts while giving up two hits. “We showed great composure in that tight situation, and Ashley [Anderson] did a nice job of staying focused,” said Lady Bisons head coach Kristin Ryman. The Lipscomb bats came to life in game two of the doubleheader. The Bobcats struck first, but the Lady Bisons answered scoring two runs in the first off a...
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 Kelsey Reiman | May 7, 2013 | News Slider, Sports
For the first time in Lipscomb’s history as an NCAA Division 1 school, the softball team will host the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament at Draper Diamond, beginning Wednesday, May 8. Of the team’s 19 players, only senior outfielder Bree Thurman has won a conference title. She’s hoping to finish off her career with one more. The young women have been running, lifting and scrimmaging for months to get prepared for a successful season and a drive for the tourney title. The team finished the regular season with a 32-22 overall record, also posting up a 18-8 record in conference play. “Conference tournament is what we have all been working for since the fall,” junior third baseman Rena’ Cothron said. “It’s going to be exciting, stressful and loud, with all of our friends and family at the games,” Cothron said. “I can’t wait to play for a championship title in front of all the people I love.” And there really is something to the old phrase: “home-field advantage.” “It will be nice to finally be the players who know our field the best; that will definitely be to our advantage,” junior catcher Haley Elliott said. “It will be nice too that we don’t have to worry about any kind of travel and we will be in our comfort zone,” Elliot said. Junior shortstop Bridgette Begle smiled, then added: “The conference title will be that much sweeter when we are champions on our own field.” Photo courtesy of Lipscomb...
