Final Score: Lipscomb: 2, Jacksonville: 6
Location: Nashville, TN. (Ken Dugan Field)
Records: Lipscomb: (5-13), Jacksonville (13-6)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Michael Dunkelberger got the start for the Bisons and pitched a three-up, three-down opening inning. After a single to short by the Dolphin's lead-off hitter, Dunkelberger forced a fly out; then the next hit into a double play to end the inning.
Caleb Ketchup took a free base with a walk in his first at-bat of the series and would advance all the way to third, but a strikeout ended the inning, leaving Ketchup on base.
The Bisons' bats were cold for most of the afternoon, with only four hits on the day. Dunkelberger pitched another solid inning in the top of the second with a strikeout and two ground outs, but the Dolphins erupted for four runs in the top of the third.
Jacksonville's first batter would walk, followed by a homer to left-center for a 2-0 lead. The Dolphins hit two more solo shots, one to left and the other to center field, to increase their advantage to four runs entering the middle of the third.
Lipscomb cut into their deficit in the bottom of the fourth on a single to center field, which scored Alex Vergara from second. They then cut the Dolphin's lead to two runs in the fifth, adding another score on a Ketchup ground out to short, allowing Will Lee to score after he got on with a standup double to left center and Kyle Hetherington reached on a drop third strike that Jacksonville's catcher couldn't corral, which advanced Vergara to third.
The Dolphins answered with runs in the top of the sixth and eighth to increase their lead back to four runs at 6-2.
Jacksonville's starting pitcher didn't allow much success for Lipscomb hitters throughout the afternoon, delivering for eight innings with seven strikeouts with just the two runs given up.
Lipscomb batters were retired in order in the bottom of the ninth, resulting in a 6-2 loss to open the series against the Dolphins (13-6), moving the Bisons to 5-13 on the season and handing them their 11th straight loss.
UP NEXT
Lipscomb will look to even the series in game two which is slated to start tomorrow, Saturday March 18, at 2:00 p.m. CT.
