Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 STATESBORO, GA – After spending the previous weekend in San Marcos, Texas, Lipscomb Softball made its way to Statesboro, Georgia, for week two of action. The Bisons are participating in the Georgia Southern Tournament, opening the first day with matchups against Furman and Georgia Southern. Lipscomb emerged victorious against the Paladins, 6-1, but fell 1-2 to the Eagles in a close-fought battle.
 
FURMAN 1, LIPSCOMB 6
With two outs in the top of the third, Brenna Sherman earned a bases-loaded walk to advance Elle Smith home for the game's first run. Furman was forced to relieve their pitcher after Smith's score, who closed the inning out at the next at-bat.
 
The top of the fifth was a huge inning for Lipscomb, with the Purple and Gold scoring five runs and earning four RBI.
 
Alyssa Hastings and Brenna Sherman started the action off, scoring on the same at-bat from Tori Womack. With both Hastings and Sherman on base and only one out, Womack reached first on a fielder's choice and advanced to second. Hastings was on third base and used the play to make it home. Sherman advanced to second on an error before making it to third on the throw and ultimately scoring a run to put the Bisons up 3-0.
 
The Paladins made yet another pitching change in the top of the fifth with two Bisons on base and two out, but the change didn't stop Lipscomb's momentum.
 
With Womack, Mallory Ogle, and Ella Polk all on base, Macey Ogle earned the Bisons' second bases-loaded walk of the inning, sending Womack home for a 4-0 lead.
 
Elle Smith was next at bat and singled up the middle before advancing the second. Mac. Ogle was tagged out at third after advancing to second, pushing both Mal. Ogle and E. Polk to score unearned runs. With a comfortable 6-0 lead, the Bisons were getting into a groove.
 
Furman responded to Lipscomb's big fifth inning with a score of their own in the bottom of the sixth but were unable to convert on any other opportunities before the end of the game.
 
Laine Barefoot pitched all seven innings with an ERA of 5.09, allowing only five hits and one run the entire game. She recorded six strikeouts facing 26 batters and forcing eight flyouts.
 
Along with her run scored, Hastings recorded hits on two of her three at-bats to improve her hitting average to .316. Sherman and Womack each recorded six putouts to lead the team, while Hastings and E. Polk had two assists apiece. The Bisons had zero errors in their second win of the season.
 
GEORGIA SOUTHERN 2, LIPSCOMB 1
The Bisons got off to a hot start with Alyssa Hastings scoring on the second at-bat of the game with Macyn Kirby earning the RBI. Hastings made it on base to lead-off and stole both second and third on a passed ball. Kirby grounded out to the pitcher and was tagged out before reaching first, but sent Hastings home to put the Bisons on the board.
 
The Eagles responded immediately in the bottom of the first with a score of their own. Georgia Southern doubled to right center, sending the Eagle on third base home to tie the game up at one score apiece. Georgia Southern scored for a second time on an unearned run to put them in the lead 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth.
 
Mallory Ogle had a huge putout to close the fifth inning. The Eagles had a runner on first with two outs and the batter launched the ball up center field for what looked like a potential home run. Mallory tracked the ball down and made the catch to end the inning and put the Bisons back on offense.
 
Courtney Sauer pitched all six innings, recording three strikeouts and allowing only four hits on 26 batters faced. Her ERA for the game was 1.37, bringing her season ERA to 1.09.
 
UP NEXT
Lipscomb will both Furman and Georgia Southern again as a part of the tournament tomorrow with their first game at 9 AM CT and the second directly after at 11:30 AM CT.