Box Score NASHVILLE – Lipscomb Baseball fell to No. 17 Pittsburgh Tuesday afternoon in the Steel City. With impressive offense from both teams, the Panthers outscored the Bisons 9-6 with 22 combined hits from the squads. 
 
Malik Williams was a weapon at the plate for Lipscomb all afternoon, going 3-for-5 with a double. Chris Bashlor and Carter Smith also had multi-hit days. 
 
The Lipscomb bats had some pop as the squad combined for three doubles and two home runs. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The Panthers took an early 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but Lipscomb didn't back down and immediately began to chip away at the lead.
 
Bashlor broke out of a three-game hitting slump in a big way with a leadoff home run to start the second inning. The Bisons would also get runners on second and third with back-to-back hits from Williams and Smith, but both were stranded for a 4-1 Pittsburgh lead. 
 
The Bisons worked around a Panthers' leadoff double in the bottom of the third to keep the deficit manageable. 
 
In the top of the fourth, Lipscomb got within a run. Williams kept his hot hitting going with a double to left center to leadoff the inning. After a single from Smith put runners on the corners, Trey Ham stepped up and delivered a sacrifice fly to cut the lead 4-2. Smith was able to advance to third on a sacrifice bunt later in the inning and eventually scored on a Brian Moore sacrifice fly to make the score 4-3 in favor of the Panthers. 
 
Pittsburgh responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth to give itself back a three-run lead (6-3). 
 
Lipscomb kept its offense going with another run in the top of the fifth after Haddon Adams singled and Bashlor doubled to left center which cut the lead 6-4. 
 
Pittsburgh regained control of the game in the bottom of the sixth with three runs to balloon its lead 9-4. 
 
The Panthers tried to put Lipscomb away quickly in the top of the ninth, but the Bisons still had fight left. After Robbie Merced worked a one-out walk, Ty Jones sent a ball past the left field fence to cut into the lead 9-6. Williams continued his impressive day at the plate with his third hit of the night to keep the rally going, but he was stranded as Lipscomb ultimately fell 9-6. 
 
UP NEXT
Lipscomb will be back home after a six-game road stint for a weekend series against Appalachian State. First pitch of the series is slated for Friday, April 16 at 6 p.m. CT.