NASHVILLE – So far in Lipscomb's three wins, they all have one thing in common: coming from behind. On this Saturday from Ken Dugan Field at Stephen Lee Marsh Stadium, the Bisons rallied from their largest deficit of the season in six thanks to seven unanswered runs, including five in the sixth to take down Villanova University by a 9-8 score.
Final Score: Lipscomb 9, Villanova 8
Location: Nashville, Tennessee (Ken Dugan Field at Stephen Lee Marsh Stadium)
Records: Lipscomb (3-3), Villanova (2-3)
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the bottom of the first, the Bisons used the wheels of
Brady Miller and
Aaron Stelogeannis to get on the board. With them on first and second base,
Damion Kenealy Jr. launched a sac fly to left center, and Miller was able to score from second. Stelogeannis had a little help from a bad throw from the shortstop to score the second run.
Villanova got on the board thanks to a Lipscomb error in the third and an RBI single in the fourth to even the score at two runs apiece.
In the sixth, the Wildcats scored six times to take a commanding 8-2 lead. However, the fight was just starting for the Bisons. Four straight reached to start the bottom of the inning, including back-to-back walks by Miller and Stelogeannis at the top of the order.
After a hit by
Keaton Mahan to load the bases, Kenealy was hit by a pitch to start the merry-go-round and cut the score to 8-3.
Two batters later,
Kai Holm produced an RBI groundout, and, pinch-hitting,
Blake Carter smashed a two-run double to make it an 8-6 deficit.
After a pitching change and
Hutson Miles taking over for Carter at second base to run,
Alejandro Ludeiro dumped a single into the outfield to cap the five-run sixth for the home squad and made it a ballgame again, 8-7, going into the final innings.
In the seventh,
Jevarra Martin Jr. got the shut-down inning the Bisons wanted thanks to a 6-4-3 double play to get out of the inning.
That momentum went to the offense in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI knock by Kenealy to even the score at eight runs apiece.
After another 1-2-3 inning by Martin on the mound to start the eighth, Miles started the eighth with an infield hit that saw him take second on a Villanova error. Two batters later,
Eric Harper drove in the go-ahead run with a sac fly to right field to rally from a six-run deficit to lead 9-8.
Going to
Adam Jamison for the save, he slammed the door that saw him strike out the side, including back-to-back called third strikes to seal the victory for the Bisons.
KEY STATISTICS
Damion Kenealy Jr. led the Bisons with three RBI on the afternoon, while
Blake Carter's pinch hit double drove in two runs.
Danny Ramirez and
Brady Miller each posted two hits.
Between
Jevarra Martin Jr. (1-0) and
Adam Jamison, the duo fired the final 3.1 innings with four strikeouts, including Jamison striking out the side in the ninth.
UP NEXT
Due to travel concerns for Villanova, Sunday's game has been canceled and will not be made up.
The Bisons will continue their home stand on Tuesday afternoon against Belmont. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.