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Lipscomb University

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SB Group
0
Lipscomb LIP 10-16, 0-1 ASUN
3
Winner North Alabama UNA 19-8, 1-0 ASUN
Lipscomb LIP
10-16, 0-1 ASUN
0
Final
3
North Alabama UNA
19-8, 1-0 ASUN
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Lipscomb LIP 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1
North Alabama UNA 1 1 0 1 0 0 X 3 5 0

W: Alivia Wilken (9-4) L: Barefoot, Laine (3-7)

5
Winner Lipscomb LIP 11-16, 1-1 ASUN
4
North Alabama UNA 19-9, 1-1 ASUN
Winner
Lipscomb LIP
11-16, 1-1 ASUN
5
Final
4
North Alabama UNA
19-9, 1-1 ASUN
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Lipscomb LIP 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 5 6 0
North Alabama UNA 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 4 9 1

W: Ogle, Macey (1-1) L: Cassidy Duskin (6-4) S: Sapp, Ryleigh (1)

Game Recap: Softball |

Softball Splits First Day of ASUN Play with Lions

FLORENCE, Ala. – Lipscomb softball took on their first ASUN series on Saturday as they traveled to Florence, Ala. to face off with the North Alabama Lions. The doubleheader saw the Lions take the first game of the day in a 3-0 shutout before completing an electric comeback victory with four runs in the top of the seventh inning to claim the second game of the day in a 5-4 win.

"I'm really proud of the resiliency of this group. We've said it all year long that we don't ever quit and we showed it again today," said head coach Kristin Ryman. "I'm not sure I've ever pinch hit for five straight hitters, but we felt like we had to try something late in the game. We believe strongly in the hitters on our bench and how they can impact games - many of them have been starters at times as well. I'm so impressed with the poise they showed tonight and their ability to pass the bat and do somethings we had been struggling to do all game."
 
GAME 1: NORTH ALABAMA 3, LIPSCOMB 0
The Bisons opened the game with a single from freshman Macyn Kirby and a walk from fellow freshman Alyssa Hastings before the duo advanced to scoring positions on a ground out from Josey Polk, but the Lions' defense locked down on Lipscomb's offense and held the Bisons off with two putouts to set the tone for the first game of the day.
 
North Alabama's offense showed their conviction early as a single and some aggressive baserunning put the Lions on the board with the first run of the day in the bottom of the first inning.
 
After a three, up three down inning for the Purple and Gold, the Lions extended their lead to two runs in the bottom of the second frame with a home run from their leadoff batter. Lipscomb's defense put up three consecutive putouts to hold the Lions' lead at two.
 
Another three up, three down inning for the Bisons struck Lipscomb's resolve and the Bisons held the Lions' off through the bottom of the third frame.
 
Polk stepped up to the plate once more as Lipscomb's leadoff batter in the top of the fourth inning and knocked a double to left center before advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt from Elise Shewmaker, but the Lions' defense stood tall and held their lead through to the bottom of the inning.
 
North Alabama's offense struck once more in the bottom of the fourth as the Lions put a runner on base with a single before sending her around to second with the next to batters and across home plate with a triple from their fourth batter of the inning.
 
After a triple from Lauren Higginbotham in the top of the fifth and a walk from the Lions in the bottom of the fifth, the two squads held each other to three batters for the remainder of the game and the Lions claimed the first game of the day with their 3-0 lead.

"In game one, we had several opportunities and just didn't cash in on them," Ryman continued. "Laine threw well enough to win the game and our defense played well to match, but we struggled to get timely hits."

GAME 2:
The Bisons fought to even things up on the weekend as the second part of Saturday's doubleheader began.
 
Macyn Kirby got on base with a single to kick things off for the Bisons before she advanced to second base on a ground out from Kaylyn Belfield. Josey Polk sent a single streaking up the middle of the field to give Kirby time to round the bases and cross home plate to give the Bisons an early lead in the second game.
 
After a fielder's choice put Brenna Sherman on first base while sending Polk back to the dugout, a ground out for Briyana Wright sent the game to the bottom of the first inning.
 
The Lions wasted not time in responding to the Bisons' challenge, putting their second batter on base with a single before sending a home run over the fence and swiftly taking the lead in the bottom of the first frame.
 
Both squads managed to put runners on base in the second frame, to no avail on either side before the Lions' defense once more held Lipscomb to a three up, three down inning to begin the third frame.
 
North Alabama's squad loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a walk on freshman Courtney Sauer before Macey Ogle stepped into the circle in relief before a walk and a single sent runners across home plate and extended the Lions' lead to three runs.
 
A three-batter inning on both sides resulted in a scoreless fourth frame before the Bisons could fight to put another runner on base in the top of the fifth. A pair of putouts and a strikeout against Elle Smith sent the contest to the game to the bottom of the fifth inning where the Purple and Gold combined for a pair of ground outs and a strikeout for Ogle held off the Lions' runner on third.
 
The Lions' defense closed in on Lipscomb's offense once more to hold the Bisons to just three batters in the top of the sixth inning, but the Bisons held off the Lions' baserunner in the bottom of the frame to hold the game to another scoreless inning and keep the score at 4-1 moving into the seventh inning.
 
Lipscomb's squad refused to back down, however, and the Bisons stunned the North Alabama defense in the top of the seventh inning.
 
The Purple and Gold called on three pinch hitters to kick off the inning, led by sophomore Grace Cassarello who drew a four pitch walk from the Lions' pitcher.
 
Lauren Griffith joined her on base moments later with a double towards left center field that sent Cassarello around to third base.
 
Presley Rader then stepped up to the plate and sent a single up the middle the sent Griffith to third and Cassarello across home plate to bring the deficit down to just two runs.
 
Joie Giarrizzo stepped in to pinch run for Rader and Tori Womack soon sent her on to second base with a ground out to the Lions' third baseman.
 
Giarrizzo was joined on base by Lauren Higginbotham after she was hit by a pitch before Elle Smith struck out swinging to give North Alabama's defense two outs to work with.
 
The Bisons kept their foot on the gas, however, and pinch-hitter Katelyn Belding sent a single past the Lions' shortstop to send Griffith across home plate and bring the Bisons within one run of tying the game.
 
Kaylyn Belfield then returned to the plate for the Purple and Gold and she put in both the tying run and the go-ahead run for the Bisons with a single to center field that sent both Giarrizzo and Higginbotham across home plate and advancing a returned Macyn Kirby around to second base.
 
The Lions then threw an intentional walk for Josey Polk and the Bisons saw a bases loaded opportunity as Brenna Sherman stepped up to the plate.
 
Sherman stood tall against the North Alabama pitcher's efforts and took a big swing out to right field that looked to score the Bisons next few runners on base, but a massive effort from the Lions' right fielder caught the fly ball and ended the Bisons turn at the plate and sent the game into the bottom of the seventh.
 
As the Bisons returned their field players to the lineup, Ryleigh Sapp stepped into the circle to relieve Ogle and the freshman pitcher held down a Lipscomb defense that put up tow putouts before logging her 18th strikeout of the season to close the game and secure Lipscomb's comeback victory.

"I'm so proud of Macey [Ogle] and the work she did in relief for us to stall North Alabama's offense and keep us in the game," said Ryman. "She did exactly what we needed her to do. I'm also so happy for Ryleigh and the way she stepped in and closed the door in the seventh inning. This was a true team win."
 
"We are giving ourselves an opportunity to win the series and that is always important," Ryman finished. "We will be looking to carry our momentum from game two into tomorrow."

UP NEXT
Lipscomb softball will return to the Hilda B. Anderson Softball Stadium tomorrow, Sunday, Mar. 17th for the final game in their series against North Alabama. First pitch is set for 1:00pm CT.
 
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