NASHVILLE – The Lipscomb University baseball team used extra innings to take the rubber match from the University of North Alabama, 5-4, Sunday afternoon from Ken Dugan Field at Stephen Lee Marsh Stadium.
Final Score: Lipscomb 5, North Alabama 4 (10 innings)
Location: Ken Dugan Field at Stephen Lee Marsh Stadium
Records: Lipscomb (11-15, 5-4), North Alabama (8-17, 5-4)
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a loud start for North Alabama, as a grand slam by Nash Rippen in the first made it a 4-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third, the Bisons got on the board. After a
Ryan Austin walk and a
Jacob Tobias double,
Aaron Stelogeannis produced an RBI groundout.
Later in the inning, after a
Jake Berg walk,
Parks Bouck loaded the bases thanks to a hit by pitch. Two pitches later,
David Coppedge made it a 4-2 score as UNA starter Anthony Pingeton hit his second straight batter.
In the fourth, back-to-back RBI singles by
Brady Miller and Berg evened the game at four runs apiece.
From there, the Bisons bullpen slammed the door on the Lions offense, as
Joey Mitchell retired 10 straight batters at one point. In the seventh, with North Alabama threatening with two outs,
Jake Lynch came out of the bullpen and got Petey Craska to strike out to end the threat.
In the ninth inning, Lipscomb tried to score the game winner after loading the bases on three walks with one out. However, a strikeout and flyout sent the game to extra innings.
In the 10th, despite a Jonathan Lane walk and stolen base with two outs,
Brock Puckett came back to catch RJ Sherwood looking at a third strike.
In the bottom half, Miller led off the frame with a double. Following a sac bunt and back-to-back intentional walks to have a force out at every base, the Lions brought in Ryker Billingsley from center field for a second straight inning to have a five-man infield.
However,
Kai Holm had other plans, as he laced a base hit to an empty center field for the walk-off winner.
KEY STATISTICS
Brady Miller and
Jacob Tobias each posted two hits in the win.
The Bisons pitching staff struck out 15 batters in 10 innings of work on Sunday, led by
Joey Mitchell's seven in his 3.1 innings of relief.
Brock Puckett (2-1) picked up the win in relief with two scoreless innings with three punchouts.
UP NEXT
The Bisons will be on the road for the next nine games, starting with a trip to Murfreesboro on Tuesday against Middle Tennessee State for a 6 p.m. first pitch.
