DELAND, Fla. - Due to rain Saturday night, the Bisons and Hatters were forced to play a doubleheader on Sunday, picking up where they left off on Saturday. Lipscomb squandered another lead to Stetson, as they could not hold the Hatters scoreless in the ninth with a one-run lead, falling 7-6 in game one.
In the series' final game, Lipscomb fought back in the late-inning to force extra innings, but the Bisons were walked off for the third straight game, 7-6 again in game three.
GAME ONE:
Lipscomb struck first again in the opening inning against the Hatters. Alex Vergara belted a solo shot to left field to put the Bisons up 1-0. Moments later, Austin Kelly launched an opposite-field home run to left for another solo homer, giving the Bisons a two-run advantage after one.
Due to heavy rain in the area, game two of the series was moved to Sunday. The Bisons picked up play on Sunday in the fourth. With two runners on in the fifth, a ground out from Alex Vergara scored the Bisons' third run to put them up 3-0.
Stetson took the lead with a five spot in the bottom half of the sixth on an RBI double down the right field line and then a grand slam to go up 5-3.
Lipscomb regained the lead on a two-run shot right field by Austin Kelly, but the Bisons could not hold the lead for the second straight game, falling in walk-off fashion on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth.
GAME TWO:
Stetson scored first in the final game of the day and the series, plating two runs each of the first two innings to go up 4-0.
Lipscomb got half of the runs back on two RBI singles in the third for a 4-2 score.
The Hatters responded and got those two runs back in the fourth, stretching their lead back out to four runs.
The Bisons rallied late, starting with a three spot in the fifth on a three-run blast from Trace Willhoite, his team-leading eighth home run of the season. Then, a run in the seventh tied the game and kept the Bisons alive in the seventh.
Jake Lynch pitched in relief for the Bisons and helped hold the Hatters scoreless for three straight innings to get his team back in the game.
Lipscomb was able to force extra innings, but the Bisons were walked off for the third straight game on a single down the right field line in the eighth and fell 7-6 again in game three.
POSTGAME NOTES
- The Bisons have lost back-to-back conference series for the first time since 2022.
- Austin Kelly finished with five RBI in the two games on Sunday.
UP NEXT
Lipscomb will travel to take on Memphis on Tuesday for a midweek showing. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. CT at FedExPark in Memphis. For more information on Bisons Baseball, check lipscombsports.com or follow the team's social media accounts (@lipscombbaseball on IG and @BisonBaseball on X).
