Softball suffers heartbreak in extra-inning affair in ASUN Championship

Tuesday, May 10

Jacksonville, FL

2:00 PM

Lipscomb University

0, 0

#5 Jacksonville State

0, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Lipscomb	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	5	9	1
Jacksonville State	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	1	6	12	0

Softball suffers heartbreak in extra-inning affair in ASUN Championship

5/10/2022 5:44:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In what could be labeled the game of the year for the Lipscomb softball team, the Bisons were unable to stave off the heavy-hitting Jacksonville State on Tuesday, falling 6-5 in 10 innings at the Pruitt Softball Complex.

The Bisons had their chances, holding a two-run lead twice in the seventh and ninth innings, but the Gamecocks blasted their way from behind to advance in the ASUN Championship. The loss for Lipscomb ends its season at 20-32 overall.

ASUN second teamer Amy Vetula got the game started with a single to left field before advancing to second on a sac bunt from Presley Leebrick. On the next at-bat, Elise Shewmaker poked a single just over the left side of the infield to get runners on the corners. Kyndall Crawford then grounded out to short with the infield in, but Vetula took advantage with her speed and took home on the throw to first to put the Bisons up 1-0 early.

??1? | @AVetula shows off her speed early, taking home on a ground ball to short from @kyyndaall to give us a 1-0 lead in the first ??#IntoTheStorm?? | #HornsUp?? pic.twitter.com/50iMxCTjcN
— Lipscomb Softball (@LipscombSB) May 10, 2022

Jacksonville State got to Emily Yakubowski for a run in the bottom of the second to tie things up at 1-1. The Gamecocks led off with a double before pushing across the run three batters later with a single into shallow right field.

The Bisons didn't flinch, however, in the third frame after JSU tied the game. Crawford worked a 1-out walk before junior center fielder Maci Cunconan blasted an 0-1 count to deep right center for a 2-run bomb, putting the purple and gold on top 3-1.

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??3? | @macicunconan UNLEASHES on a ball and sends it over the fence in right center for a ??-run shot??

LIP 3, JSU 1#IntoTheStorm?? | #HornsUp?? pic.twitter.com/Ujc8zzPl3O
— Lipscomb Softball (@LipscombSB) May 10, 2022

With JSU threatening in the bottom of the fourth with runners at first and second following a hit by pitch and a walk with two outs, Yakubowski fell behind 3-0 to Keeli Bobbit, but was able to get a ground ball to Vetula at short to get out of the jam.

Kaitlynn Hunt tried to get the Bisons going in the top of the sixth when she ripped her second hit of the day into the left center gap for a double. After advancing to third on a ground ball, the Bisons left her stranded with another groundout on an 0-2 pitch.

??6?| @khunt_12 smashes hit No. 2? on the day with this double to left center ??

LIP 3, JSU 1#IntoTheStorm?? | #HornsUp?? pic.twitter.com/EiT209GOQ3
— Lipscomb Softball (@LipscombSB) May 10, 2022

JSU got a little momentum going in the bottom of the sixth with a leadoff single. They later got two runners on base, ending the line for Yakubowski. She was replaced by ASUN All-Freshman Kate Peters, who came on and got the final out with a fly ball to center to get out of the jam.

Just three outs from advancing in the tournament in the bottom of the seventh, you knew things wouldn't come easy. The Gamecocks got a double and a single with one out to set the stage. After the next batter grounded out, JSU's Addie Robinson snuck a soft hit ball through the left side and two runs came home to even the score at 3-3.

The next batter checked a swing, but somehow dropped the ball down the right field line to put the winning run at third base. Peters, however, got a fly ball to center field for the final out, sending the game to extra innings.

Still tied entering the ninth inning, the Bisons were able to come up with some fireworks. Elise Shewmaker drew a 1-out walk and then Crawford slapped an 0-2 pitch into left to put two runners on. Then, Cunconan stepped in the box. The ASUN All-Academic selection crushed a ball off the wall in right center for her nation-leading ninth triple of the season, driving in two runs to put the Bisons back in front 5-3.

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SHE DOES IT AGAIN! Maci spanks her nation-leading 9th triple of the season off the wall and 2? runs score????

We're back in front 5-3 ??#IntoTheStorm?? | #HornsUp?? pic.twitter.com/6pGkxlXF6Q
— Lipscomb Softball (@LipscombSB) May 10, 2022

In the bottom of the stanza, JSU hammered back-to-back solo home runs to lead off the frame and even the score back up at 5-5.

The Gamecocks then blasted a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10^th with one out.

NOTES

Cunconan's home run was her team-leading eighth of the season, while the triple was her ninth.
Waterman took the loss, falling to 0-1. She pitched 1.1 innings and allowed one run on two hits.
Vetula, Crawford, Hunt and Cunconan each collected two hits to lead the Bisons.
Cunconan drove in a team-high three RBI. It was her third 3-RBI game of the season.
The Bisons were outhit 12-9 and they left 11 runners on base. JSU stranded 13.
Yakubowski worked 5.2 innings, giving up one run on four hits.
Peters allowed four runs on six hits across 2.1 innings.