Saturday, March 28, 2009

FRESNO, Calif. - Winning the first ever NCAA Tournament game at the University of Georgia. Besting Gardner-Webb in 15 innings to win their first ever Atlantic Sun Tournament Championship. Besting Louisiana State in a series on its home field in Baton Rouge.

It’s hard to say where Friday night's 10-6 win over Fresno State at Beiden Field ranks among the signature wins for the Lipscomb Bisons in the past two seasons, but beating the defending College World Series Champion is no small feat.

“You’ve got to know that it is great to beat the defending national champion,” said Bisons coach Jeff Forehand. “The atmosphere was a little more heightened than usual. It was more like what we experienced late last season.

“But you have to keep it in perspective. We played in a tough atmosphere against a really good team and we came out on top.”

It wasn’t an easy trip.

The Bisons spotted Fresno State a one run lead in the first inning.

But in the third inning the Bisons responded with five runs only to give up three in the bottom part of the third.

Antonio Butler led off with an infield single to second base. M.L. Williams followed with an infield single to the shortstop. Tyler Wilson was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, Justin Sanders reached base on a fielder’s choice as Wilson was thrown out at second, but the play allowed Butler to score.

Tennyson Dodd grounded out to the shortstop to send Williams across the plate. Branden Cadavid singled to right field to drive in Sanders. Ryan Wilkins doubled to right center to plate Cadavid. Jay Moreland then singled to center to send Wilkins home.