Final Score:  Lipscomb: 1, Vanderbilt: 7
Location:  Nashville, Tenn. (First Horizon Park) 
Records:  Lipscomb: 12-13, No. 9 Vanderbilt: 20-4
 
THE SHORT STORY 
 
Despite an early lead, Lipscomb was not able to hold off No. 9 Vanderbilt Tuesday evening at First Horizon Park as it fell 7-1.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
Collin Witzke got off to a good start on the mound for the Bisons as he struck out the first man he saw. He continued his second start of the season by retiring the Commodores in order. 
 
The Lipscomb offense backed Witzke up with a run in the bottom of the first. David Coppedge set the tone with a leadoff double. A sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly drove Coppedge across home plate for a 1-0 Bisons lead after the first frame.
 
Vandy responded by putting four runs on the board in the top of the second as the Bisons quickly found themselves in a 4-1 hole heading into the bottom of the second. 
 
Lipscomb was able to get two runners on in the third to threaten the Vanderbilt lead, but both were stranded. 
 
After a scoreless third inning, Vanderbilt got back on the board in the fourth, scoring a run on a sacrifice fly for a 5-1 lead. 
 
Lipscomb's pitching staff continued to be strong through the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, keeping the Commodores scoreless. John Cheatwood was impressive in the top of the seventh, retiring Vanderbilt in order with a pair of punch outs. 
 
The Commodores extended its lead in the top of the eighth with a pair of unearned runs for a 7-1 lead. Hayden Frank and Trey Nordmann combined for a scoreless ninth inning on the mound, but the Lipscomb offense was unable to get anything else going and fell 7-1. 
 
UP NEXT
Lipscomb will continue its nine-game road stretch with an ASUN weekend series at Bellarmine. First pitch on Friday, April 1 is slated for 1 p.m. CT.