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 Bridgette Begle | Feb 10, 2014 | Sports
By Bridgette Begle and Erika Thornsberry With temperatures dropping into single digits in recent weeks, spring sports have seen little time outside on their fields, courts and courses. Tennis, golf, baseball and softball are being forced to share time inside as the winter weather continues to blow through. Senior golfer MacKenzy Carter says, “Being inside creates a disadvantage for us because we can’t actually hit off of real grass. The indoor mats and nets don’t allow us to actually see the ball flight and judge distance.” Golf uses the nets on the side of the court in McQuiddy while baseball and softball share time in the upper levels where the pitching mounds and two hitting cages are located. “Going from the field to a tiny space with only two cages limits space for the team to work together,” said sophomore softball player Tanner Sanders. Sanders is a pitcher for the Lady Bison and goes on to say, “The lighting inside [McQuiddy] is terrible. Therefore our pitchers cannot pitch live inside the cages. Not to mention we will also need a lot of work on defense before season begins which isn’t possible if we are inside.” Tennis is missing its outdoor courts because of the role that natural elements play in their game. “The biggest difference between indoor and outdoor tennis are the sun, the wind and the temperature,” says senior Stuart Tierney. “Outdoors you have to play with the elements. You have to understand which way the wind is blowing, and where the sun is in the sky.” This cold weather isn’t the only thing bringing these spring sport...
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 Brianne Welch | Aug 28, 2012 | News Slider
Students noticed a variety of changes to campus when they returned to school this fall. Over the summer break, the student center received major renovations as did Elam dormitory, McFarland, the new nursing building and several other areas around campus. Students seemed to take most notice of the renovations to the student center. From freshmen to students who have already graduated, many students seemed eager to share their opinions about the new setup. Several students said they appreciated the additional seating that now exists in a new lounge area where the bookstore used to be located. “I really like the way the student center is set up because everything is in a very convenient place, and there is a lot of seating,” said freshman Tanner Sanders. “I like the renovations at the student center because it gives you more room for seating,” said junior Ashley Anderson. Anderson and other students noted that they were disappointed with the removal of Sub Connection to make room for the bookstore downstairs. “I don’t like that they took out our only sub shop,” she said. Some students saw the increase in seating as an opportunity for even more growth. “I like that there’s more seating,” said Lipscomb graduate Alex Ross, “but if [the school] has that much seating, I wish they would have put in another store.” To hear more of what students think about the renovations, watch this video by Ariel...
