NASHVILLE, TN – With severe weather predicted for Sunday, Lipscomb and Bellarmine moved their series to open with a Friday doubleheader. Entering the series, the Bisons were 2-4 in conference play and the Knights 0-6.
BELLARMINE 2, LIPSCOMB 8
The Knights opened the game up with a triple, scoring the first run of the game in their second at-bat to get their momentum going early. Down one run, the Bisons went three up three down in the bottom of the first.
Lipscomb started to find their stride in the bottom of the second, recording their first three hits of the day.
Macey Ogle doubled down the left field line to advance
Presley Rader to third, after which
Elle Smith singled to load the bases. With two outs,
Ella Polk was walked to send Rader home and
Macyn Kirby singled for a score from Mac.Ogle in consecutive at-bats. Lipscomb earned their first lead of the matchup, up 2-0 on the Knights entering the third inning.
The Bisons struck again in the bottom of the third on a two-run homer from
Josey Polk. She sent her and
Brenna Sherman home for a pair of RBI and to extend the lead over Bellarmine to 4-1.
Alyssa Hastings saw Sherman's home run and raised her another one, hitting one over the right center fence for three runs. Kirby and
Ella Polk earned runs to accompany Hastings's and the Bisons were sitting at a comfortable six-run lead, forcing the Knights to relieve their pitcher.
Halle Klaiber entered at the top of the fifth to relieve
Laine Barefoot after an outstanding afternoon, allowing only three hits in four innings.
Bellarmine responded with a home run of their own in the top of the fifth for their second run of the game.
The Knights continued to claw their way back into the game. With bases loaded and no strikes in the top of the sixth, Barefoot stepped back into the circle for Lipscomb. Bellarmine recorded three straight popups to send the game into the bottom of the sixth.
Lipscomb scored their eighth run of the afternoon on a double from J.Polk, sending Sherman to third before advancing home on a throwing error. The Bisons loaded the bases and made a pinch-hitting substitution for
Tori Womack to take a crack at it in hopes of run-ruling the Knights, but Bellarmine made a great play on the ball to send the game into the seventh.
Josey Polk ended game one hitting 3-4 with a homer for 2 RBI and a double.
BELLARMINE 6, LIPSCOMB 10
Lipscomb continued to ride the high of their game one win, scoring in the bottom of the first.
Macyn Kirby led the game off with a single before being sent home by Sherman on a double for a quick lead.
The Bisons scored again in the bottom of the second.
Macey Ogle doubled to lead off the half-inning and
Ella Polk sent her home before advancing to second on a throwing error for a 2-0 Lipscomb lead.
Alyssa Hastings struck again in the bottom of the third with her second home run of the day. Her solo homer is her sixth of the season, tying her and
Brenna Sherman as the season leaders in homers for the Bisons.
Ryleigh Sapp gave up only one hit on 11 batters faced in the first three innings of the game before
Courtney Sauer took to the circle.
The bottom of the fourth was big for the Bisons, adding four more runs to their lead. After
Elle Smith reached on an error,
Ella Polk homered to left center to send the two home. After Hastings and Sherman were walked,
Josey Polk doubled for a Hastings score and Sherman advanced home on a throwing error. Up 7-0, the Bisons had created a comfortable lead.
Macey Ogle entered the circle for the Bisons after Sauer's no-hitter inning. The Knights loaded the bases and earned a run before Barefoot reentered the game for the Bisons. Bellarmine scored four more times before the end of the inning and Lipscomb's seven-run-lead was cut to two with a score of 7-5.
Presley Rader extended the Bisons' lead with a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth, sending her, Hastings, and J.Polk over the plate. Bellarmine scored one final run in the top of the seventh before the Bisons called it a night with a 10-6 victory.
Ella Polk hit 2-3 on the evening, recording 3 RBI and one run on a homer.
UP NEXT
Lipscomb and Bellarmine will close the series tomorrow with a single afternoon game. First pitch is set for 1 PM and the Bisons will honor their dads in their annual Dads and Daughters game.
