CONWAY, S.C. – In most confrontations whoever blinks first loses.

The Lipscomb Lady Bisons didn't blink Friday night in a 4-3 win over Coastal Carolina in the Chanticleer Showdown at St. John Field. The two teams are the only ones in the classic after COVID-19 concerns prevented Marshall and Charleston Southern from participating.

Lipscomb is 5-3. Coastal Carolina falls to 2-5 after losing a fourth straight game. 

It was another gritty nail-biter for the Lady Bisons who scored two runs in the first but needed two more in the sixth to hold on to the lead.

"It was a hard-fought game," Lipscomb coach Kristin Ryman said. "Both pitchers did a nice job."

Breana Burke (3-1) allowed six hits, walked two and struck out six.

Kaitlin Beasley-Polko (2-2) gave up five hits, walked six and struck out seven.

"Their pitcher did a nice job of making it hard on us," Ryman said. "After we had a slow start she got into a zone in the middle innings.

"We talked about facing good pitchers. You have to keep on grinding it out. You are going to get beat sometimes, but it is how you respond and come back."

Lipscomb opened a 2-0 lead in the first on RBI singles by Caitlin Turner and Olivia Ward.

Coastal Carolina scored one in the fourth and one in the fifth to tie the game at 2-2.

Lipscomb stepped up again in the sixth on an RBI double to left center by Katelyn Belding. A bases loaded walk by Amy Vetula brought home what proved to be the winning run.

"Late in the game we found a way to make things happen again," Ryman said. "We took advantage of some walks. We had a couple of really key walks late in the game. Kyndall Crawford had and one and Amy Vetula had one.

"Belding had a huge double. She smoked that ball. For a freshman, what a key moment it was for her. It was exciting to see her keep working to find a way."

The Chanticleers scored another run in the seventh on a double, but Burke shut them down the rest of the way for the win.

"Coastal Carolina has a good, scrappy kind of team," Ryman said. "They have some hitters who can hurt you. They have a variety of players with power and speed. They are similar to us.

"The intensity was like an ASUN game. That is the experience this team needs early."

Extra innings:

• Ward extended her hitting streak to five games. She has also reached base safely in five games in a row.
• Rich has hits in her last four games and has reached base in the last four.
• Vetula has connected for hits in the last three games.
• Ward and Vetula are tied at six apiece in RBI behind Rich with eight. Caitlin Turner added her fourth RBI of the season.
• Teagan Dobson was pinch-hitter and made her first appearance in a college game.
• Belding's double was her second of the season.

Up Next:
The two teams meet again Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at noon. They close out the weekend with a single game Sunday at 10 a.m.