NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Sometimes a team just runs out of innings.

Such was the case for the Lipscomb Lady Bisons as they closed out the second day of the Purple and Gold Challenge Saturday at Draper Diamond at Smith Stadium with a 6-3 loss to SIU-Edwardsville.

The Lady Bisons split the day, beating UMBC 3-2 earlier. Lipscomb split the games with SIU-Edwardsville over the weekend.

“They are a good team,” Lipscomb coach Kristin Ryman said. “We saw it Friday.

“Pitching-wise we are trying to grow and learn. When you are facing a good hitting team, especially the top of their order it makes it tough when you don’t have your best stuff.”

SIU-Edwardsville scored first with a run in the second and another in the fourth. Lipscomb answered with two in fourth as Megan Kline singled to center field to bring home Caitlin Turner and Jenna Endris hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Olivia Ward.

In the fifth Lipscomb and SIU-Edwardsville traded runs. Amy Vetula, who lead off with a single, scored on a throwing error.

SIU-Edwardsville scored another run in the sixth and capped the game with a two-run home run to center field by Abby Marlow who had a game highs with three hits, three runs and two RBI.

The Lady Bisons started their portion of the seventh with a walk used to Leebrick and a single by Peyton Ward but both were left stranded.

“We showed a lot of fight and grit the whole game,”  Ryman said. “They would score and we would come back and find a way to tie it up. There was a lot of resiliency out of this group. That has become a hallmark for us.”

Emily Yakubowski started for Lipscomb. The freshman left-hander threw four innings. She gave up five hits and two runs, one earned. She struck out one and did not walk a batter.

Chloe Yeager, 0-1, pitched the final three innings. She allowed four hits and four runs, all earned. She walked one and struck out one.

“Emily didn’t always have her best stuff,” Ryman said. “She wasn’t hitting her spots. You are going to have days like that.

“Chloe is working to get back to being the Chloe that we have known and seen for the last three years. She got some swings and misses and some pop ups.”

SIU-Edwardsville sent three pitchers to the circle. Kennedy Lehn walked two in one inning.

Lipscomb batters connected for six hits and three runs, two earned, against Lexi King in 4.1 innings. She walked two and did not strike out a batter. Emily Ingles, 5-1, closed out the game with 1.2 innings of work on one hit and one walk.

“Our postgame talk was pretty positive,” Ryman said. “We played catch up the whole game. It was a good fight. We came up a little short against a good team.”

AROUND  THE BASES

• Leebrick recorded her sixth multi-hit game, her second of the day. She moved into the No. 2 spot in the batting order for the second time this season against SIU-Edwardsville.
• Olivia Ward, with two singles, has multiple hits in three games.
• Peyton Ward has reached base in seven straight games.
• Caitlin Turner has been on base in six consecutive games.
• Leebrick has extended her streak to five games reaching base.
• Jessie Brown stole her fourth base of the season.
• Kline's single and RBI were both career firsts for her.

UP NEXT

The Lady Bisons close out the Purple and Gold Challenge Sunday afternoon at 2:30 against Indiana State at Draper Diamond at Smith Stadium.