Vetula drives in three as softball drops rubber game with Jacksonville State

Saturday, April 16

Draper Diamond

1 PM

Lipscomb University

16-25, 6-9

Jacksonville State

25-16, 9-6

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Jacksonville State	0	0	5	0	0	1	0	6	9	0
Lipscomb	1	2	0	2	0	0	0	5	7	0

Vetula drives in three as softball drops rubber game with Jacksonville State

4/16/2022 4:05:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

NASHVILLE - Lipscomb softball dropped the rubber match of it's three-game series with Jacksonville State on Saturday by a score of 6-5.

The loss drops the Bisons to 16-25 overall and 6-9 in the ASUN, while the Gamecocks improved to 25-16 and 9-6.

After getting the complete-game victory on Friday night, freshman Kate Peters drew the assignment again in the finale. She worked two perfect innings to start the game and for just the 10^th time this season, the Bisons retired their opponent in order in the first frame as Peters needed just 11 pitches.

In the bottom half of the inning, Presley Leebrick worked a leadoff walk and then moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. After getting to third on a sacrifice bunt, Amy Vetula slapped her fifth two-bagger of the season down the left field line to drive in Leebrick and give the Bisons a 1-0 lead.

??1? | @AVetula punches her 5th double of the year down the LF line to drive in Leebrick??

It's a 1-0 Bison lead!#IntoTheStorm?? | #HornsUp?? pic.twitter.com/IOJyc92kBc
— Lipscomb Softball (@LipscombSB) April 16, 2022

Lipscomb added to that advantage in the second frame after Kyndall Crawford drew a four-pitch walk to get the action started. Following two quick outs, nine-hole hitter Jessie Brown hammered a rope into the right center gap for an RBI-triple, her first of the season. Crawford scored on the play.

??2? | @jessie_brown24 drives a triple into the right center gap to plate Crawford, giving us a 2-0 lead??#IntoTheStorm?? | #HornsUp?? pic.twitter.com/Tly0Y1AAXn
— Lipscomb Softball (@LipscombSB) April 16, 2022

On the very next at-bat, Leebrick nearly knocked one over the fence, but it careened off the centerfielder's glove on the warning track for her 13^th double of the season. Brown scored from third to give the purple and gold a 3-0 lead.

??2? | How about we make it 3-0??

Leebrick sends a shot to the wall for her 13th double of the year, bringing in Brown to extend the lead. ??#IntoTheStorm?? | #HornsUp?? pic.twitter.com/LyoZE3c4dK
— Lipscomb Softball (@LipscombSB) April 16, 2022

Jacksonville State had seen six batters go down in order to start the game, but then the third inning came. The Gamecocks got it started with a leadoff walk, a base hit, stolen base and another walk to load the bases. From there a 3-RBI double and a 2-run homer put the visitors on top for the first time, 5-3.

Lipscomb was able to get back on the board and even things up in the home half of the fourth behind a little 2-out magic. Leebrick drew a walk, then Elise Shewmaker drilled a double to left center to put two runners in scoring position. Then it was Vetula's time, again.

The senior shortstop dropped her second double of the day down the line in left to drive in both Bisons and tie the game at 5-5.

??4? | ?????? ???????????? ????????@AVetula TIES it up at 5-5 with another double down the LF line! Shewmaker and Leebrick score on the knock. #IntoTheStorm?? | #HornsUp?? pic.twitter.com/PJCd6K0VWD
— Lipscomb Softball (@LipscombSB) April 16, 2022

The game stayed that way until the top of the sixth when the Gamecocks went ahead 6-5 on a 2-out infield single where the runner beat the throw to first.

Laine Barefoot entered in relief in the fifth and suffered the loss. She tossed 2.2 innings of two-hit ball, but unfortunately allowed the winning run.

Vetula went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two doubles, while Leebrick reached base in all four of her at-bats. She went 2-for-2 with two walks, two runs and a RBI.

Brown also drove in a run on a 1-for-3 afternoon.

UP NEXT
Lipscomb gets back on the field Tuesday with a trip to Bowling Green to battle the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.