NASHVILLE - Lipscomb baseball fell to Ohio on opening day at Ken Dugan Field 15-7, their first loss in a season-opening game since 2016. A seven-run seventh inning for Ohio gave the Bobcats a six-run lead, which they later added to in the ninth.

Seven different Bisons had hits in the loss, led by Will Lee's 3-for-4 performance with a home run and three RBI. Austin Kelly hit his first home run of the season, which brought in two runs, in his only hit of the day. 

On five hits, Ohio took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second, but Lipscomb got back two on Lee's two-run homer, bringing in Carter Richey, who led off the frame with a double.

Lipscomb later took the lead Austin Kelly bomb, scoring Alex Vergara from second base. The Bisons then extended their lead to two runs (5-3) on a single from Adam Fallon to plate Lee, who doubled to left.

Ohio evened the score at five in the fifth, with their three hits in the inning resulting in two scores. Lipscomb regained the lead, bringing in one run in the bottom half on Lee's third hit of the day, a single to left field. 

In the top of the seventh, the Bobcats erupted, plating seven runs on three hits and one error, to take a commanding 12-6 advantage. Lipscomb got one run back in the eighth on a fielder's choice ground out by Jesus Pacheco, but the Bobcats scored three more in their next at-bat to extend their lead and take game one of the three-game series. 

POSTGAME NOTES

• Alex Brewer got the start for the Bisons and pitched 4 1/3 innings, tossing three strikeouts.
• Ohio pitcher Tim Knapschaefer was credited with the win, while Jake Lynch for the Bisons took the loss. Tyler Peck closed out the final three innings on the mound for the Bobcats and secured the save. 
• The Bisons were outhit 17-9 in the series opener. 
• The loss was the first opening-day loss for the Bisons since the 2016 season when they fell to EKU 13-7. 
• Six new players saw action in their first game as Bisons. 

UP NEXT
Lipscomb and Ohio continue their three-game series on Saturday, Feb. 17, with a 1 p.m. CT first pitch. For more information on Bisons Baseball, check lipscombsports.com or follow the team's social media accounts (@lipscombbaseball on IG and @BisonBaseball on X).