CLARKSVILLE, TN – After Austin Peay clinched Game One of the series yesterday evening, the two squads took to Cheryl Holt Field for the finishing doubleheader. The Govs clinched the series after winning the first game of day two, but Lipscomb shocked the Govs and broke their 24-game win streak in the final game of the series.
LIPSCOMB 2, (RV) AUSTIN PEAY 6
The Bisons tested a new lineup in their first matchup, moving
Macyn Kirby from the nine-hole to lead-off,
Alyssa Hastings from lead-off to second, and
Elle Smith from second to ninth.
Brenna Sherman recorded the first hit for the Bisons on the day with a homerun single to center field.
With two outs,
Josey Polk was walked and
Presley Rader doubled to center field before
Macey Ogle reached first on a walk to load the bases. The Govs relieved their pitcher and struck the Bisons out to close the top half of the inning. Austin Peay scored on a fielder's choice to tie the score at one apiece in the bottom of the first.
Lipscomb struggled to find a hit in the second inning, and the Govs posted a clean inning before taking to the plate. Austin Peay recorded an RBI single for the lead.
Austin Peay had a big third inning, recording three runs on four hits and forcing a Bisons error.
Laine Barefoot relieved Sauer to close out the third and Lipscomb found themselves down 1-5.
The Bisons struggled to score again after Sherman's homer but caught a break in the bottom of the fourth. The Govs hit a homer to left center for two runs, but the runner on first left early, negating the runs and ending the inning.
Despite the mistake, the Govs continued to push the pace. After forcing the Bisons to close the top of the fifth with no hits and no scores, the Govs hit a single run homer for a 6-1 lead.
Sherman stepped up big for the Bisons once again, tripling in the top of the sixth.
Josey Polk recorded an RBI on a groundout for Sherman to score her second score of the day.
Lipscomb allowed no hits and no scores in the bottom of the sixth, entering their final regulation inning down 2-6. Despite their best efforts, the Bisons were shut out in the seventh and the game ended with an Austin Peay win.
Sherman finished the game with both runs for the Bisons, hitting 2-3 with a homer, a triple, and an RBI.
LIPSCOMB 12, (RV) AUSTIN PEAY 6
Lipscomb made lineup adjustments for the second game of the doubleheader, with
Tori Womack playing first base and
Ella Polk at second.
Presley Rader bumped back to left field while
Macyn Kirby took to center field.
Both squads entered the bottom of the second with no runs on the board but the Govs changed that quickly. With runners on first and second and no outs, Austin Peay recorded an RBI single for a 1-0 lead. Lipscomb forced the Govs to leave the bases loaded to end the inning and return to the plate.
Lipscomb responded to Austin Peay's challenge in the top of the third, hitting back-to-back home runs to right field.
Josey Polk recorded 3 RBI on her homer, sending home Kirby and Sherman, while
Presley Rader recorded her first homer of the season for a 4-1 lead. This is the second time the Bisons have hit back-to-back homers, with the first one in their season opener against Bradley.
The Bisons turned the bottom of the third quickly, allowing no hits and forcing the Govs to leave one runner on base.
Hitting their stride, the Bisons capitalized yet again in the top of the fourth. With two outs and
Grace Cassarello on third,
Alyssa Hastings singled to the pitcher, earning an RBI and putting another run on the board for Lipscomb for a 5-1 lead.
The Bisons silenced any doubters in the top of the fifth, recording three runs on three hits. J.Polk and Rader singled in consecutive at-bats before
Macey Ogle stepped up. Mac.Ogle tripled to right center, sending both J.Polk and Rader home. During Womack's at-bat, Mac.Ogle scored on a wild pitch to put the Bisons up 8-1 on the Govs.
The Bisons weren't out of gas, scoring again in the top of the sixth. Kirby scored on an error by centerfield during J.Polk's at-bat, putting the Bisons up 9-1 on Austin Peay.
The Govs refused to give up, recording a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to avoid a run-rule and claw at the lead.
Austin Peay continued to chip away, recording an RBI triple to cut the deficit to five. The Govs placed runners on the corners after a walk and
Courtney Sauer stepped in to relieve Sapp.
Austin Peay scored once again before the end of the sixth and what was once a comfortable 9-1 lead for Lipscomb was cut to 9-5.
After Austin Peay forced two quick outs, the Bisons fought to extend their lead. Cassarello scored the Bisons' tenth run on an RBI single from Kirby. To close the inning out, Hastings sent
Lucy Ream and Kirby home on a 2 RBI single for a 12-5 lead.
Sapp reentered the game to close the series out. The Govs SAC flied out for a run to cut the lead in half. Lipscomb held out strong and Kirby made a huge catch to close the game out.
Breaking the Govs' national-leading 24-game win streak, Lipscomb improves to 2-4 in ASUN play this season.
Josey Polk had a standout performance for the Bisons, hitting 3-4 and recording a home run with 3 RBI 2 runs.
Presley Rader went 2-4 with 2 runs, an RBI, and a homer while
Macyn Kirby both went 3-5 on the afternoon with 3 runs and an RBI.
UP NEXT
The Bisons will face Tennessee State University in a midweek evening matchup on Wednesday, March 26
th. The game will be played at Draper Diamond with a start time set for 5:00 PM.
