MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – It was a scoreless pitcher’s duel for the first six innings on Saturday between the Lipscomb and Ohio softball teams, but the final three innings saw the Lady Bisons explode at the plate to knock off the Bobcats, 12-4.

Highlighting the explosion was an 8-run ninth inning after Lipscomb (5-0) had given back a three-run lead one inning prior.

The Lady Bisons entered the ninth stanza tied 4-4 with the Bobcats before a bases-loaded walk from Peyton Ward put the Purple and Gold ahead for good. The scoring continued when Khayla Green walked a batter later.

From there RBI-singles from Caitlin Turner, Sarah Higgins and Jenna Endris helped Lipscomb to its biggest inning of the season and keep the record unblemished.

Lipscomb opened the scoring in the top of the seventh on a RBI-bunt single from Ward. After Ohio knotted things up in the bottom of the frame, the Lady Bisons then responded with three runs in the eighth.

Higgins singled to center to drive in Turner. Jordan Fortel followed with a 2-run blast two batters later to make it 4-1 in favor of Lipscomb.

Junior hurler Mandy Jordan moved to 3-0 in the circle after continuing her dominant start to the 2018 season. She struck out seven batters in eight innings of work. Jordan blanked Ohio on the scoreboard through the first six innings, before allowing a single score in the seventh and three more in the eighth.

She was then lifted for Megan Gray, who worked a perfect ninth.

Eight different players scored a run and recorded a hit for Lipscomb, and seven players notched a RBI.

The Lady Bisons are currently playing their second game of the day against Jacksonville State.

Check back later for a full recap of both games.