NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Lipscomb Lady Bisons attacked early and often and never looked back

Wednesday night at Draper Diamond at Smith Stadium the Lady Bisons used a power surge with three home runs, a double and single off the center field wall on the way to a 12-2 defeat of North Carolina from the ACC. The game was called after 4 ½ innings due to the run rule.

““We know what this team is capable of and we are starting to see it come together,” Lipscomb coach Kristin Ryman said. “The confidence was contagious. The big hits sent us over the edge.

“We know we are capable of having that kind of power surge. It is not going to happen every game but to do it against a good North Carolina team was fun. We are talking about a team that beat Tennessee Tuesday night.”

Lipscomb has won three games in a row and is 12-10. North Carolina drops to 10-14.

Hannah DeVault led the way for the Lady Bisons with the two-RBI single off the wall in the first inning. Olivia Ward capped off the scoring with a two-run blast over the center field fence.

In the second DeVault would strike again with a two-out grand slam over the left field fence.

“Hannah has really picked up steam,” Ryman said. “She is starting to click. She is starting to feel more comfortable with her swing.

“She is a big key to our lineup. It has been fun to see her playing a little bit lighter. She is smiling more She is playing looser mentally.”

North Carolina answered with one run in the second and another in the fourth on a solo home run.

The Lady Bisons would seal the game answering with a four-run fourth inning on an infield error and a three-run shot over the center field fence by Kamrie Rich.

Katie Turner, 5-1, gave up four hits, walked five and struck out three.

“Katie Turner threw an outstanding game,” Ryman said. “She got some key strikeouts.”

North Carolina sent five pitchers to the circle. Starter Caroline Cagle, 0-2, was credited with the loss. Lipscomb connected for seven hits, four for extra bases including a double by Peyton Ward. Six Lipscomb players walked.

“Our hitters were feeling it early,” Ryman said. “We had a lot of good at bats. We attacked good pitches.

“That is good for us as coaches to see. We have such a great group of players. They have no reason not to be confident.  Every pitching change they made we found ways to score. They kept the mentality of keeping the pressure on and the energy going.”

Around the bases

• DeVault’s six RBI are an individual and team game high this season.
• Peyton Ward stole a base. She is 12-for-12.
• Rich, DeVault and Jenna Endris are in a three-way tie for the home run lead with three each.
• Rich and DeVault each finished with two hits.

Up next

The Lady Bisons head to the Billiken Tournament this weekend, the final preconference tournament of the season.

They open Friday at 11 a.m. against Illinos-Chicago.