Final Score: Lipscomb: 11, Liberty: 12
Location: DeLand, Fla. (Melching Field at Conrad Park)
Records: Lipscomb: (33-23, 23-7 ASUN), Liberty (27-28, 16-14 ASUN)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Despite trailing 5-1 early, Lipscomb battled to take a 9-5 lead after three innings. The Flames scored seven more runs to take a 12-9 lead. Lipscomb got two runs back in their last attempt in the bottom of the ninth but couldn't plate any more and fell 12-11 in game one.
The Flames tripled to open the first frame and then sent a two-run homer over the left-center field wall to take an early 2-0 lead.
Lipscomb answered in the bottom half and cut their deficit in half on a sacrifice fly from Trace Willhoite with runners on first and third.
Three more runs cross home plate for the Flames in the second, scoring on a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt, a ground out to first with a runner on, and a single through the right side for a 5-1 lead through an inning and a half of action.
The Bisons never stopped battling and in the second inning tallied five runs to take a one-run lead. Jake Berg opened the frame, which saw all nine of the Bisons order bat, with a hard-hit single back to the pitcher. Parks Bouck also singled but to left field to put runners on first and second. David Coppedge then singled to right center to load the bases, and Will Lee singled down the left field line, which brought in the first two runs for the Bisons.
Then, after a walk from Ketchup in his second at-bat of the day, Alex Vergara doubled through the left side to score two more and tie the ball game at 5 runs each. Mason Lundgrin followed with a grounder out to short, which allowed Ketchup to score from third for the fifth and final run of the frame.
Lipscomb adds three more in the third on a throwing error by the Flames catcher to third base and then a two-run jack from Ketchup over the left-center field wall for a 9-5 lead.
Liberty returned a run in the fourth on a ground out to first base to cut the Bisons lead to three runs (9-6). Both teams cooled down offensively after a hot start, scoring a combined 14 runs in three innings, with no runs in the subsequent two frames.
But the Flames continued to inch closer in the seventh on a single to right field to score a run. They then connected on a grand slam in the seventh to take an 11-9 lead. Their sixth and final run of the frame scored on a double to the right corner, giving Liberty a 12-9 advantage.
It was left up to the ninth inning for the Bisons to mount a comeback. They scored two runs in the frame after two walks and a wild pitch moved Berg and Bouck to second and third, as Ketchup reached on a throwing error by their shortstop to score them both.
Unfortunately, the Flames fan the final batter to win in game one of pool play 12-11.
UP NEXT
The Bisons will have the day off Wednesday before playing game two of pool play against the No. 2 seed FGCU on Thursday, May 25, at 9:00 a.m. CT.
