NASHVILLE - Lipscomb softball split its Saturday doubleheader against Florida Gulf Coast to open the home ASUN slate. The Bisons came from behind to win 6-4 over the Eagles in game one before dropping a 16-5 decision in five innings in game two.
 
 
GAME ONE | LIPSCOMB 6, FGCU 2

Laine Barefoot toed the rubber in the first game and pitched into the fourth inning before hitting the end of her line. After working three shutout frames, the Eagles (11-20, 4-4 ASUN) got a leadoff walk, a sacrifice bunt and then three straight singles, two of which were run-producing. Kate Peters came on in relief and got out of the jam, giving Barefoot a final line with two runs on five hits across 3.2 innings of work with one walk and one strikeout.
 
The Bisons (12-18, 2-3 ASUN) had trouble figuring out FGCU's pitcher Ally Hulme through four innings as they only managed two baserunners and found themselves in a 2-0 hole. In the bottom of the fifth, however, things changed.
 
 
Elise Shewmaker led off the frame with a five-pitch walk before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Tori Womack was called upon to pinch-hit and came through with a RBI-single down the third base line to get Lipscomb on the board.
 
Jessie Brown loaded the bases on the next at-bat with a single up the middle before Meghan Kline worked a walk to score the game-tying run at 2-2.
 

??5? | @ToriWomack44 gets a pinch-hit RBI single down the line and then @jessie_brown24 follows with an RBI-single of her own to tie the game at 2-2??#IntoTheStorm?? | #HornsUp?? pic.twitter.com/aolqqVbtD1

— Lipscomb Softball (@LipscombSB) March 26, 2022

 
The team's leading hitter, Presley Leebrick, stepped in the box and pounded a ball to the wall in deep center to drive in two runs to give the Bisons their first lead.
 

??5? | @presleyleeb launches a ball to the wall in center to bring in ?? more runs, giving up a 4-2 lead!#IntoTheStorm?? | #HornsUp?? pic.twitter.com/ye7IwuyWfr

— Lipscomb Softball (@LipscombSB) March 26, 2022

 

In the next plate appearance, designated player Maci Cunconan smacked a ball to center as it bounced over the fence for a ground-rule double, knocking in two more runs to extend the Bisons lead to 6-2.

??5? | MACI CUNCONAN tags a deep fly that bounces over the fence for a 2-RBI ground-rule double ??

We now lead 6-2 heading to the 6th ??#IntoTheStorm?? | #HornsUp?? pic.twitter.com/A0gDz2vW00

— Lipscomb Softball (@LipscombSB) March 26, 2022

 
 
FGCU mounted a comeback in the seventh inning with two runs on three hits, but Peters was able to work out of the jam and secure the win for the Bisons.
 
Peters (4-4) got the win after tossing the final 3.1 innings. She gave up two runs on three hits with one walk.
 
Leebrick led the team with a 2-for-3 day and two RBI.
 
 
GAME TWO | FGCU 16, LIPSCOMB 5
 
With whatever momentum the Bisons had from a game one victory, it quickly evaporated in game two as FGCU scored in each of the first three innings, combining for 13 runs and 12 hits.
 
The Bisons tried to cut into a 7-0 hole in the bottom of the second with three runs. Walks from Kamrie Rich and Kyndall Crawford sandwiched a single by Elise Shewmaker to juice the bases. Rich came home after FGCU's pitcher threw a ball out of play trying to get her at third. Two batters later, Shewmaker came home on a wild pitch before Womack tagged another base hit to left field to drive in Crawford, cutting the deficit to 7-3.

??2? | We take advantage of an error and a wild pitch from FGCU before @ToriWomack44 pokes an RBI-single into left!

We're now trailing 7-3 heading to the third. ??#IntoTheStorm?? | #HornsUp?? pic.twitter.com/RJsB9aqsB2

— Lipscomb Softball (@LipscombSB) March 26, 2022

 
 
Trailing 13-3 in the third, the purple and gold scored two more runs off the bat of Rich who doubled to right field, plating Leebrick and Kelly Paulson after they each singled to lead off the inning.

??3?| FGCU puts up 6 more runs in the top half before @Kamrie_Rich smokes a 2-RBI double off the right field wall!!

We're down 13-5 heading to the 4th. #IntoTheStorm?? | #HornsUp?? pic.twitter.com/PdAE6sL5s5

— Lipscomb Softball (@LipscombSB) March 26, 2022

 
FGCU scored three more times in the top of the fifth, while shutting out the Bisons the rest of the way resulting in a run-rule.
 
Emily Yakubowski got the start in the circle and dropped to 2-5 on the season. She worked 3.0 innings while giving up 10 runs on 12 hits and five walks.
 
Leebrick and Shewmaker led the team with two hits in the loss, while Rich paced the team with two RBI.
 
 
UP NEXT
Lipscomb and FGCU will close out the series at noon on Sunday at Draper Diamond.