Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Lipscomb University

Offcanvas Scoreboard

Lauren Griffith
2
Murray State MUR 7-9
7
Winner Lipscomb LIP 7-8
Murray State MUR
7-9
2
Final
7
Lipscomb LIP
7-8
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Murray State MUR 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 1
Lipscomb LIP 0 0 0 5 2 0 X 7 12 0

W: Sapp, Ryleigh (4-3) L: Veber, Jenna (6-3)

8
Winner North Dakota St. NDSU 8-11
1
Lipscomb LIP 7-9
Winner
North Dakota St. NDSU
8-11
8
Final
1
Lipscomb LIP
7-9
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
North Dakota St. NDSU 1 4 1 0 2 0 0 8 13 0
Lipscomb LIP 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 2

W: Madison Wihlm (1-1) L: Barefoot, Laine (2-4)

Game Recap: Softball |

Bisons Split Opening Day of Purple and Gold Challenge

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Lipscomb softball welcomed Georgetown, North Dakota State, and Murray State to Music City on Friday for the first day of Lipscomb's three-day Purple and Gold Challenge tournament. The Bisons faced off with Murray State and North Dakota State don the first day of competition, defeating the Racers 7-2 before falling 8-1 to the NDSU Bison.
 
GAME 1: LIPSCOMB 7, MURRAY STATE 2
After a rainy start to Friday's tournament necessitated a small change in schedule, the Bisons stepped foot onto their home field once more, ready to take on their latest challengers.  Lipscomb's squad held off two Racer runners on second and third as freshman Ryleigh Sapp delivered two strikeouts in the top of the first to firmly set the tone for the game for the Bisons.
 
Murray State looked to take the early lead with a two RBI homer in the top of the second, but Lipscomb's patience soon paid off and the Purple and Gold put on a show during the bottom of the fourth as the squad combined for a five-run inning.
 
The Bisons quickly loaded the bases with their first three batters of the inning as Brenna Sherman knocked a double and advanced to third on a single from Elise Shewmaker. After Shewmaker stole second base, the duo was joined on-base by Josey Polk after the Arrington, Tenn. native drew a walk off the Murray State pitcher.
 
As Kaylyn Belfield smacked a single towards the Racers' pitcher, the Bisons' runners rounded the bases and Sherman crossed home plate to put the Bisons on the board. Presley Rader then stepped into the batter's box and tied things up with a single to center field to send Shewmaker home and keep the bases loaded for the Bisons.
 
The Bisons' quick resurgence forced a pitching change from Murray State and after Briyana Sherman struck out swinging, the Bisons gained the go-ahead run moments later as Macyn Kirby knocked a single towards second base to bat in Polk and put the Bisons up 3-2.
 
Lipscomb's squad made a quick offensive change to have Lauren Higginbotham step into the batting lineup for Elle Smith while Grace Cassarello entered the game as a pinch runner for Rader. Higginbotham then knocked a fly ball toward right field that was collected by the Racers' defense, but not before Kaylyn Belfield could cross home plate and extend Lipscomb's lead.
 
Freshman Alyssa Hastings then stepped into the box and took first base after an error by Murray State's short stop, giving Cassarello time to cross home plate and secure Lipscomb's 5-2 lead as Brenna Sherman's pop-up hit was collected by the Racers' first baseman to end the Bisons' turn at bat.
 
The Bisons' defense closed in hard on the Racers, holding them to just one single in the top of the fifth with three putouts to bring the Bisons back into the batter's box. Lipscomb's squad soon had Shewmaker back on third with Belfield right behind her on second with two outs.
 
Grove City, Ohio local Lauren Griffith entered the game as a pinch hitter for Wright and quickly extended the Bisons' lead once more with a single to right field, sending Shewmaker across home plate once more. Wright stepped back in as a pinch runner for Griffith, but it was Belfield who recorded Lipscomb's seventh run of the game as Macyn Kirby knocked a single into left field to send Belfield home.
 
The two squads battled through the sixth frame but staunch efforts from both defenses halted the score in its tracks and Lipscomb's squad claimed it's first win of the weekend.
 
GAME 2: NORTH DAKOTA STATE 8, LIPSCOMB 1
Tournament play necessitated a quick turnaround for the Bisons and the Purple and Gold soon found themselves facing off with the North Dakota State (NDSU) Bison.
 
NDSU's squad looked to press Lipscomb's defense early, putting a runner around to third base within their first three batters. The Bison then broke open the scoring with a single to put in a RBI and go up 1-0 in the top of the first. Three consecutive putouts for the Bisons in the bottom of the frame saw NDSU's lead hold through to the second inning.
 
Long singles from Bison and a double to center field saw North Dakota State on to a 5-1 lead in the top of the second, but Lipscomb's squad fought to get back in control of the contest in their own turn at bat in the bottom of the second. As the Bisons loaded the bases once more on Friday, Macyn Kirby drew a walk from the NDSU pitcher to send Elise Shewmaker across home plate for her third run of the day to bring the game to a 5-1 count heading into the third frame.
 
North Dakota State tallied another RBI in the top of the fourth before holding the Purple and Gold to a three up, three down inning to claim a 6-1 lead through the fourth inning. The visitors from Fargo extended their lead further in the fifth frame with back-to-back RBIs,
 
Lipscomb's squad held their aggression at the plate, putting a runner on base in the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, but their efforts were to no avail as the NDSU defense closed in on Lipscomb's offense and held their lead through the final ball to claim an 8-1 win over Lipscomb.
 
UP NEXT
The Bisons will return to action in the second day of the Purple and Gold Challenge on Saturday, Mar. 2nd as they take on North Dakota State once more in a rematch beginning at 12:30pm CT.
 
Print Friendly Version
Lipscomb University athletics logo