NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Before the first official pitch was thrown, Lipscomb coach Kristin Ryman knew her team had the potential to be successful at the plate throughout the order this season.

So far, her assumption has been correct with contributions from top to bottom.

Lead-off hitter Amy Vetula sets the pace for the Lady Bisons with a .385 batting average. Also hitting better than .300 are clean-up hitter Kamrie Rich (.365), Kyndall Crawford (.316) and Olivia Ward (.306). Caitlin Turner is close at .296.

Rich leads with five extra base hits, including two home runs. Presley Leebrick, Elise Shewmaker, Katelyn Belding and Ward each have four extra base hits.

"We have a team approach, but it becomes more individualized when you are in the box by yourself," Ryman said. "We are improving as hitters. I'm not surprised we are having success.

"We are going to continue to raise the bar as we get ready for ASUN pitchers. I am proud of what a lot of our hitters are doing early. We just have to be consistent and disciplined in what we are doing."

The Lady Bisons welcome Belmont to Draper Diamond at Smith Stadium Wednesday for a single game at 4 p.m. in softball's version of the "Battle of the Boulevard". Lipscomb is 9-7. Belmont, from the OVC, is 4-7.

Belmont is led by Cheyenne Cavanaugh with a .333 average. Audrey Lyle is hitting .294 and leads the Bruins in RBI with six. Her three home runs are the only round-trippers hit by Belmont this season.

Left-hander Alicia Veltri is 2-4 with a 3.21 earned run average. She has 26 strikeouts in 32.2 innings.

Autumn McDaniel is 2-1 with a 3.27 ERA.

"It is not a huge rivalry anymore since we are not in the same conference and only play one time," Ryman said. "But it is another opportunity for us to go out and find a way to win."

Ryman has her largest roster ever, but also a very young one.

"With younger players it is hard to find consistency," Ryman said. "I know we have a talented lineup. We have had players like Leebrick, Rich, Vetula and Caitlin Turner who were successful right off the bat as freshmen.

"But young players have a learning curve. I have seen a lot of good things from the younger players. They have to be consistent against college pitching."

Extra innings:

• Laura Dukes was an assistant at Belmont last season before returning to Lipscomb for this season.
• Ward and Vetula are tied for the team lead in RBI with 11.
• Vetula has eight stolen bases in nine attempts. She stole nine bases as a freshman and four last season.