Final Score: Lipscomb: 7, Eastern Kentucky: 7
Location: Nashville, Tenn. (Dugan Field)
Records: Lipscomb: 16-14 (5-5, ASUN), Eastern Kentucky: 21-9 (8-2, ASUN)
THE SHORT STORY
Lipscomb Baseball picked up a crucial ASUN victory, defeating Eastern Kentucky 7-2 Friday night behind impressive pitching and consistent offense.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Eastern Kentucky jumped on Lipscomb early, taking a 2-0 lead on three hits in the top of the first inning. The Colonels threatened to blow things open in the top of the second when it loaded the bases but starting pitcher
Michael Dunkelberger got out of the jam to keep the Lipscomb deficit at a pair.
The Bisons tied things up in the bottom of the second when
Malik Williams led off with a single to left field on the first pitch he saw.
Rudy Maxwell tied the game with one swing when he sent a home run 394 feet over the center field wall.
With a 2-2 score, Dunkelberger locked in and retired the Colonels in order for the next two innings.
In the bottom of the fourth, Lipscomb took a two-run lead after
Trace Willhoite doubled down the left field line for a 3-2 lead. The second run of the inning came when
John Shields delivered a sacrifice fly for a 4-2 advantage.
Dunkelberger continued to deal, allowing just one hit through the next three innings and struck out a career-high eight batters.
After three scoreless innings for the Lipscomb offense, the Bisons got back on the board in the bottom of the eighth to pull away. A couple bunts and an error juiced the Lipscomb bases with no outs. The Bisons took advantage with a sacrifice fly for a 5-2 lead.
Trace Willhoite and Shields cashed in with RBI singles to extent the lead 7-2.
Matthew Bohnert made his 11th appearance in relief this season, throwing the final two innings for Lipscomb. He made quick work of the Colonels, retiring them in order with three strikeouts to pick up his first save of the season and secured the 7-2 Lipscomb victory.
HERD NOTES
- Maxwell and Willhoite both had multi-hit games.
- Dunkelberger and Bohnert combined for 11 strikeouts and walked just one.
- Bohnert extended his scoreless inning streak to 12 innings.
- Williams extended his hitting streak to five games.
UP NEXT
The second game of the three-game series against Eastern Kentucky is slated for Saturday, April 9. First pitch at Ken Dugan field is set for 2 p.m. CT.