NASHVILLE, TN – After torrential downpour on Saturday, the Bisons opened up their first ASUN conference game against the North Alabama Lions with a Sunday doubleheader. Entering the day, the Bisons and Lions stood neck-and-neck in the ASUN standings, the only two teams not to have played a conference game.
Both teams braved the clouds threatening another storm and the first day of the series was split.
NORTH ALABAMA 4, LIPSCOMB 5
Lipscomb forced the Lions to go three up three down to start the game before earning a run in the bottom of the first. Leading off for the Bisons,
Alyssa Hastings doubled to left center before
Elle Smith and
Brenna Sherman were walked. With bases loaded and no outs,
Josey Polk lined out to right field and earned the RBI for Hastings to score. The next two batters were struck out swinging and the Lions took to the plate in a 0-1 deficit.
Laine Barefoot allowed just one hit in the first two innings and recorded two strikeouts before the bottom of the second.
Grace Cassarello doubled to left field with one out, after which
Macyn Kirby was walked to first. With runners on first and second, Hastings singled to left center and advanced to second on a throwing error, earning an RBI on an earned run from Cassarello and pushing Kirby to third. With runners on second and third, the Lions forced two consecutive outs and Lipscomb entered the third up 2-0.
Neither team recorded a run in the third, but the top of the fourth was eventful for both teams. On their lead off for the inning, the Lions launched a ball out to right center for a home run, but
Mallory Ogle robbed the homer. Further on in the inning, North Alabama scored two runs on an error from the Bisons, tying the game up at 2-2.
Courtney Sauer started in the circle for the fifth inning, allowing only one hit before the Bisons sent the Lions back to their dugout. Lipscomb met the same fate in the bottom of the inning, recording one hit before the top of the sixth.
North Alabama picked up speed in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with one out. The Bisons recorded a huge double play to close the inning with Sauer catching the ball, throwing it to
Brenna Sherman for an out at home, and
Presley Rader tagging the first base bag. The Lions forced the Bisons to go three up three down in the bottom of the sixth.
Feeling the pressure to finish the game with a win, the Lions scored two runs in the top of the seventh. Lipscomb responded in the bottom of the inning with Hastings leading the Bisons off. She hit a homer to right center to get the game within a run. The next three Bisons made it on base to load the bases before the Lions forced the first out of the inning.
Presley Rader stepped up to the plate and nearly hit a grand slam with the ball falling just short of the wall.
Elle Smith scored to tie the game up 4-4 and leave the bases loaded. The Lions forced a second out and Lipscomb pinch hit
Tori Womack. With two balls and two strikes, Womack hit a line drive through the right side for an RBI to allow Sherman to score the game-winning run.
Alyssa Hastings hit 3-4, recording a homer, 2 runs, and 2 RBI with a double.
Josey Polk it 2-3 with an RBI and 4 assists.
NORTH ALABAMA 16, LIPSCOMB 0
The Lions fought back after the walk-off win from the Bisons, scoring a run in the top of the first. The Bisons recorded a hit in the bottom of the inning before moving into the second, in which neither squad recorded a run.
North Alabama scored two more runs in the top of the third on doubles. By the end of the fourth, the Bisons had only recorded one hit and were clawing at a 0-3 deficit.
In the top of the sixth, the Lions scored a two-run homer to left field.
Macey Ogle stepped in to relieve Sapp, but North Alabama could not be stopped. The Lions scored five more times before another home run for three more runs.
Courtney Sauer relieved Mac.Ogle and closed the inning out. North Alabama ended the top of the sixth up 16-0.
The Bisons recorded five errors in the second game with four in the top of the sixth.
UP NEXT
The Bisons and Lions will play the final game of their series tomorrow at 1 PM at Draper Diamond.
