NASHVILLE, TN – Lipscomb Softball faced off against ASUN foe Eastern Kentucky in their first and only series this season. The Colonels received five first-place votes in the ASUN Preseason Coaches Poll and ranked first overall and they were living up to the standard. Eastern Kentuckyt entered the matchup sitting in first place of the Gold division with a 9-2 conference record, while the Bisons claimed fourth place with a 6-6 conference record.
 
EASTERN KENTUCKY 2, LIPSCOMB 1
The Colonels started with a hot bat, recording two singles to lead the game off. They placed runners on second and third with no outs and Laine Barefoot stepped up big. She recorded three consecutive strikeouts to end the half-inning and get the Bisons' momentum going.
   
Lipscomb responded to Eastern Kentucky's lead-off singles with two singles of their own in the bottom of the inning from Macyn Kirby and Alyssa Hastings. Presley Rader loaded the bases with just one out and Brenna Sherman stepped up to the plate, getting hit by a pitch to send Kirby home for a 1-0 Bisons lead.
 
Eastern Kentucky's pitcher got into a grove after Kirby's score and struck two consecutive batters out.
 
Lipscomb held onto their lead through the top of the second, allowing no runs from the Colonels. Eastern Kentucky returned the favor, allowing just one hit from Elle Smith before closing the inning out.
 
The Colonels scored their first run in the top of the third after reaching a runner on base by a Bisons error. The score was back even at 1-1 before Lipscomb Josey Polk caught a pop-up to lead into the top of the inning. By the middle of the third, the Bisons held the ASUN Gold division's top team to one run and Barefoot recorded five strikeouts.
 
Neither team saw any more scoring action until the seventh inning. Eastern Kentucky reached one runner on base in the top half of the inning, but the Bisons allowed no runs to keep the score tied. The Bisons clawed for a score to earn the win, but the Colonels forced the inning to close with no runs. For the first time this season, the Bisons went into extras.
 
With one out, the Colonels reached two runners on base to apply pressure. Eastern Kentucky launched a ball to left field but Elle Smith caught the fly out for a second out. With runners on the corners, Sherman made a huge play to catch a Colonel stealing to move into the bottom of the eighth with no extra Eastern Kentucky runs.
   
The Colonels forced to Bisons into a no-hit half-inning to send the game a ninth inning. The Bisons stayed strong defensively to keep the game going.
   
The Colonels had a hard-hit ball down the rightfield line for an RBI triple to score the first run since the top of the third and earn their first lead of the game. Lipscomb forced two outs, trailing 2-1 into the bottom of the ninth.
 
The Bisons needed a run to keep the game going, but Eastern Kentucky shut down their hopes by forcing another no-hit inning. The Colonels squeaked by with a 2-1 win before the second game of the day.
 
Laine Barefoot had a standout afternoon, allowing just two runs and one walk to the ASUN Gold division's leader. She struck five batters out and faced 37 batters in the elongated matchup.
 

EASTERN KENTUCKY 8, LIPSCOMB 6
Eastern Kentucky scored a run in the top of the first to secure a leg up on the Bisons early. Lipscomb loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning with one out, but the Colonels retained their lead heading into the second.
 
The Colonels scored two more runs in the second, extending their advantage to 3-0. Lipscomb earned a hit from Tori Womack and a walk from Elle Smith in the bottom of the inning, but Eastern Kentucky stopped any potential runs and held their 3-0 lead.
 
The Bisons entered Courtney Sauer to the circle to start the top of the fourth, relieving Ryleigh Sapp of her duties. With one out in the top of the fifth, Eastern Kentucky loaded the bases and tallied two more runs to their score.
 
Lipscomb kept their energy up on defense, making plays where they could. Macyn Kirby, Alyssa Hastings, and Womack worked together for a double play to keep the Colonels scoreless in the sixth.
   
Eastern Kentucky snuck three more runs in during the top of the seventh to lead 8-0 in what seemed like a sure victory. The Colonels relieved their pitcher, and the Bisons took advantage immediately. Womack forced an error to lead off the inning and advanced to second. Pinch runner Lucy Ream took Womack's place and scored on a ground out from Elle Smith, advancing Mallory Ogle to third after she reached on a single. Mal.Ogle scored on an RBI single from Kirby and Hastings doubled for runners on second and third.
   
Kirby scored a third run for Lipscomb on a wild pitch before Josey Polk send Hastings home on an RBI single. The Colonels reentered their starting pitcher, but the Bisons were determined. Brenna Sherman doubled to left center for an RBI single on a run by J.Polk to cut the lead to three.
   
Ella Polk grounded out for an RBI to send Presley Rader home, bringing the score to 8-6. Womack was walked to join Rader on base. Eastern Kentucky recorded the final out to solidify their victory in a heartbreaking fashion for Bisons fans.
 
Josey Polk hit 3-4 on the evening with one run and one RBI. Macyn Kirby hit 2-3 with one run and one RBI as well.
 
UP NEXT
The Bisons and Colonels will return to Draper Diamond for the series' final game tomorrow. First pitch is set for 1 PM.