OXFORD, AL – After defeating the Queens Royals earlier in the morning in a six-inning showdown, the Bisons took a season-ending loss to the FGCU Eagles in the afternoon.
#7 Lipscomb and #6 FGCU faced off for the first time this season in a single-elimination matchup. The Eagles took the win, advancing to the double elimination rounds and inching one step closer to the Title.
LIPSCOMB 3, FGCU 5
Florida Gulf Coast struck in the bottom of the first, scoring on a wild pitch to get a leg up on the Bisons. The Eagles scored two more runs in the second, forcing two Bisons errors along the way.
Lipscomb fought back but struggled to get on base, recording just two hits and one walk in the first four innings. Defensively the Bisons made big plays, including a double play to close out the bottom of the third before the Eagles could put themselves in another scoring position.
Down 5-0, the Bisons lit up in the bottom of the sixth. With bases loaded and no outs,
Presley Rader stepped up to the plate and singled to send both
Alyssa Hastings and
Josey Polk home.
FGCU relieved their pitcher, but the Bisons kept fighting.
Tori Womack singled to advance Rader and
Brenna Sherman, loading the bases once again. The Eagles hunkered down and recorded two consecutive outs to close the top of the inning out.
Josey Polk gave the Bisons one last fighting chance with a triple late in the top of the seventh.
Brenna Sherman tripled to send J.Polk home, the first base umpire ruled Sherman out at second. Head Coach
Kristin Ryman challenged the call and after review, the Bisons were awarded the run and Sherman was deemed safe.
The Bisons cut the lead to two, but the Eagles caught a fly ball to end Lipscomb's season.
Laine Barefoot pitched two full games on the day, facing a total of 56 batters through 12 innings.
Tori Womack and
Josey Polk went out swinging in their final game wearing purple and gold. Womack hit 2-3 and J.Polk hit 2-4 with two runs and a triple.
Alyssa Hastings and
Brenna Sherman each swung 2-4 on the afternoon, Hastings scoring a run and Sherman sporting an RBI and a double.
