OXFORD, AL – For the first time in a couple of years, the Bisons earned a spot in the ASUN Tournament. The Bisons received the #7 seed, the ASUN announced this past weekend, and their first test would be a matchup against #10 Queens.
Neither team had faced each other all season with Lipscomb representing the Gold Division of the conference and Queens the Graphite Division. The Royals entered the matchup 16-35 overall and 9-15 in conference. Lipscomb sported an overall record of 24-29 and an ASUN record of 11-13.
QUEENS 3, LIPSCOMB 11
The Royals led off the matchup with a single up the middle for their only hit of the inning. The Bisons hunkered down on defense, forcing Queens to leave a runner on base and ending the inning with a swinging strikeout.
Lipscomb was ready to play, and they proved it in the bottom half of the inning. The Bisons forced two walks and an error in the first three at-bats to lead the bases. Hitting cleanup,
Brenna Sherman reached on a fielder's choice and
Macyn Kirby scored on Queens's third error throwing home.
Presley Rader recorded an RBI on a sac fly to send
Alyssa Hastings over the plate for a second Bisons run before the end of the first inning.
Lipscomb forced the Royals three up three down in the top of the second and loaded the bases on a walk, a hit, and a hit-by-pitch.
Josey Polk made a huge play to send three runners home.
Macey Ogle scored first, followed by Kirby and
Alyssa Hastings, forcing yet another error from Queens. J.Polk advanced to third throughout the chaos, in perfect scoring position for the next at-bat.
Sherman stepped up big to the plate once again, doubling to right center for an RBI on J.Polk's run. Lipscomb led the matchup 6-0 by the time the third inning rolled around.
The Royals put themselves on the board in the top of the fourth, scoring on a fielder's choice after the Bisons allowed a double and made an error.
Laine Barefoot struck out the next two consecutive batters to end the half inning and stop the bleeding.
Queens scored twice more in the top of the fifth, but Lipscomb retaliated in the bottom of the inning.
Grace Cassarello pinch ran after
Tori Womack recorded a single with
Elle Smith on third. Cassarello stole second and advanced to third on an error while Smith scored on the failed pickoff attempt.
In the next at-bat,
Macey Ogle flied out to left field and recorded an RBI on the run by Cassarello, extending the lead to 8-3.
The Bisons found themselves with bases loaded once again in the bottom of the sixth with one out. Rader was walked to send Kirby across home plate, advancing Hastings to second and J.Polk to third. Smith reached on a fielder's choice and the Royals tagged Hastings out at home for out number two.
Womack walked the game off with a single, earning scores from J.Polk and Rader.
Macyn Kirby,
Elle Smith, and
Tori Womack all hit .500 on the morning. Kirby recorded 3 runs and a stolen base while Smith had a run and Womack contributed 2 RBI.
Laine Barefoot recorded her 14
th win of the season, striking 4 batters out throughout 6 innings.
UP NEXT
The #7 Bisons will get right back to the action, taking on #6 FGCU later this afternoon with first pitch slated for 3 PM. The second-round matchup will also be hosted to Choccolocco Park in Oxford, AL. The winner of the matchup with advance to the double elimination rounds while the loser will go home.
