CONWAY, Ark - After falling 7-5 in game one of their doubleheader with Central Arkansas (21-24, 11-13 ASUN), Lipscomb rallied in the ninth, with two runs scored on sacrifice flies to earn the game-three win, and clinched their sixth straight ASUN series with an 8-7 decision in Saturday's weekend finale.
GAME ONE: LIP 5, UCA 7
Austin Kelly put the Bisons on the board first on an RBI single to left-center field in the first inning.
Central Arkansas answered in the bottom half of the frame with a four-spot to take a three-run lead (4-1). The Bears scored on an RBI double followed by a home run and then a solo bomb to create some separation.
Central Arkansas added another run in the third on a wild pitch to increase their lead to four runs. The Bisons manufactured a run in the sixth inning on an RBI single down the right-field line from Parks Bouck in the sixth.
However, Central Arkansas created more insurance in the seventh, which proved crucial, scoring two runs on an RBI single up the middle to go out 7-2.
Lipscomb homered twice for three total runs in the 8th with a solo shot by Carter Richey, his second home run of the year, followed by a Trace Willhoite two-run long ball, which cut their deficit to two runs.
The Bears' two-run inning in the seventh proved to be the difference, as neither team scored in the ninth, resulting in a 7-5 loss for the Bisons in game one of the doubleheader and game two of the series.
GAME TWO: LIP 8, UCA 7
Lipscomb took an early lead in the first on a two-run home run by Austin Kelly to give the Bisons a 2-0 advantage.
The Bisons plated two more in their next at-bats of the second, scoring on an error in the infield with two runners in scoring position, followed by an RBI double to left by Alex Vergara to go up 4-0.
Central Arkansas fought their way back and took a one-run lead with a five-spot in the third inning, but Vergara came up clutch for the Bisons again, homering to center field with two runners on to take a one-run advantage in the winner-take-all game three.
The Bears then took a one-run lead, putting two runs on the board in the seventh on an RBI triple down the right field line, and a RBI ground out to second.
Lipscomb rallied in the ninth with two runs on sacrifice flies from Kelly and Will Lee to take an 8-7 lead. Then, in the bottom half, they got the three outs they needed to win the game 8-7 and the series 2-1.
POST SERIES NOTES:
- Lipscomb now leads the overall series with Central Arkansas 5-4.
- Alex Vergara is now up to 20 home runs on the year, just the third time that a Bison has reached that milestone in a single season in program history. Vergara and Austin Kelly hit 20+ home runs last season.
- The Bisons have now won six straight weekend series and have won five of their last six games.
- Vergara finished the series with six RBI to lead the team, eight for the week including four home runs.
UP NEXT
Lipscomb baseball will return home for a midweek matchup with MTSU on Tuesday, May 7, at Ken Dugan Field, the start of the Bisons' final four home games of the season. Lipscomb defeated MTSU at their place 7-3 in their earlier meeting this season. First pitch is schedule for 6 p.m. CT. For more information on Bisons Baseball, visit lipscombsports.com or follow the team's social media accounts (@lipscombbaseba l on IG and @BisonBaseball on X).
