Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MOBILE, AL – The Bisons were eager to step foot in the diamond after a snowy week in Nashville. Lipscomb Softball traveled to Mobile, AL to play in the Mardis Gras Classic hosted by the South Alabama Jaguars for a weekend of action. To open the tournament, Lipscomb had a major 18-0 win over the Maine Black Bears after five innings, but fell to the Jaguars 1-12 .
 
MAINE 0, LIPSCOMB 18
The Bisons came out hot, allowing no hits in the bottom of the first. With two outs and one runner on base, Josey Polk singled through the right side, advancing Elle Smith to second, Smith then made it to third on a fielding error. J.Polk stole second on the next at-bat, putting the Bisons in a prime scoring position with runners on second and third, but Lipscomb was unable to score
 
After allowing just one hit in the top of the second, Lipscomb capitalized on scoring opportunities during the bottom. Alyssa Hastings stepped up to the plate for the second time in the game with bases loaded and one out. Hastings reached on a fielding error and recorded an RBI when she sent Ella Polk home. Tori Womack reached home on an unearned run, and Macyn Kirby advanced to third. Hastings stole second during the next at-bat for runners on second and third with one out.
 
Elle Smith was next in line and recorded an RBI on a single down left field. Kirby scored and Hastings recorded an unearned run while Smith advanced to second on the throw. Up 4-0, Brenna Sherman singled to left field to advance Smith to third while Sherman took to first. The black bears were forced to relieve their pitcher, after which Sherman stole second.
 
After J.Polk was walked, Presley Rader recorded an RBI on a single to right center when she sent Smith home for a score. The bases were once again loaded with one out. On her next at-bat, E.Polk doubled to left field for 2 RBI on scores from Sherman and J.Polk. Rader advanced to third. Mallory Ogle doubled at the following at-bat, recording 2 RBI on runs from E. Polk and Rader. Once again, Maine relieved their pitcher.
 
The Bisons could not be stopped, even after recording a second out. Hastings made her third appearance at-bat and doubled to center field, recording 2 RBI on runs from Kirby and Mal.Ogle. With the very next at-bat, it was Hasting's turn as Smith doubled to left field for an RBI to send her home. Before the inning ended, Sherman reached first on a throwing error and Smith scored an unearned run on a separate throwing error.
 
Hastings and Smith highlighted the Bisons' offense, ending the inning with a combined 4 hits on 6 at-bats, 4 runs, 6 RBI, and 2 doubles. Lipscomb entered the third inning up 13-0
 
Ryleigh Sapp recorded another scoreless inning before the bottom of the third. Womack singled to left field before advancing to second on the throw, recording 2 RBI on runs from E.Polk and Rader. In her season debut, former Lipscomb WSOC player Lucy Ream pinch-ran for Womack. Ream scored the first run of her career on an RBI from Hastings with two outs. On the next at-bat, Sherman doubled to right center for 2 RBI as Smith and Hastings recorded runs. Lipscomb entered the fourth up 18-0.
 
All 9 players who started the game recorded hits and runs. The Bisons ended the game in five innings, first victory by more than five points all season. As a team, Lipscomb recorded 16 hits on 30 at-bats with 6 doubles, 16 RBI, and 13 putouts.
 
Hastings had 2 hits on 4 at-bats, recording 3 runs, a double, 4 RBI, and 3 putouts. Smith went 3-3, scoring 3 times and recording 3 RBI. She leads all Bisons with a batting average of .348 this season. Sapp faced 19 batters and recorded 8 strikeouts, one short of her career high. She only allowed only one hit and only 2 walks throughout 5 innings.
 
LIPSCOMB 1, SOUTH ALABAMA 12
The Purple & Gold made it on base twice in the top of the first, once on a HBP and the other on a fielding error. With no hits and no runs, the Bisons were at a disadvantage early.
 
South Alabama put themselves on the board in the bottom of the first on a single with runners on first and third. The runner on third scored, leaving runners on first and second. Laine Barefoot walked the Jaguar's fifth batter to load the bases with one out, and the Bisons decided to relieve Barefoot with Courtney Sauer. Sauer entered the game in a high-pressure situation, giving up 4 runs in the next 3 at-bats. The Jaguars flied a ball out to center field, ending the inning with the Bisons down 0-5.
 
The Bisons recorded their first hit of the game in the top of the second but were unable to create any scoring opportunities. The Jaguars, on the other hand, loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the second. South Alabama scored two more runs before the end of the inning.
 
South Alabama continued to capitalize on their momentum in the third inning, recording 3 runs on 3 hits. Before the end of the inning, the Bisons sent Barefoot back onto the mound to relieve Sauer.
 
Rader recorded a hit to lead off the top of the fourth, but the following three at-bats resulted in outs. Lipscomb allowed 2 runs on 2 hits for the Jaguars, putting South Alabama up 12-0 entering the fifth.
 
With bases loaded in the top of the fifth, Rader was walked to send Kirby home, putting the Bisons on the board.
 
UP NEXT
Lipscomb will return to Jaguar Field tomorrow to face off against the Maine Black Bears again at 9:00 AM and Texas A&M – Corpus Christi at 11:30 AM.