Friday, February 11, 2011

ATHENS, Ga. - It was “Breakfast in Athens” for the Lipscomb Lady Bisons as they opened the 2011 season Friday at the Red & Black Showcase at the University of Georgia.

The Lady Bisons spotted Iowa from the Big 10 four runs in the first inning, but fought back for a 5-4 win. The Lady Bisons started on a less than successful note, falling 1-0 to East Carolina in the first game of the tournament. Both games were played at Jack Turner Stadium.

In the Iowa game freshman Lipscomb pitcher J.J. Nelson had a rough first inning in her collegiate debut. walked two batters and hit another and then allowed a run to score on an illegal pitch. She gave up a three-run home run to left field by Jenny Schuelke.

The Lady Bisons wasted little time chipping away at the Iowa lead. In the bottom of the first doubled to right field to score Courtney Billington who had reached base on a single.

In the third Mackenzie Tucker led off with a walk. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Billington and went to third on a wild pitch. She scored when Vanessa Medina hit a fly ball that was dropped by the center fielder.

Haley Elliott hit her first collegiate double to center field to bring Medina home with the third run of the game.

Breanna Thurman single to center field to drive in Elliott with the tying run.

The Lady Bisons scored what proved to be the go-ahead run in the fourth when Billington hit a two-out single to center to score Shelby Cunningham who had led off the inning with a single.

The Lady Bisons had seven hits. Billington led the way with two.

Nelson pitched 3.1 innings and gave up two hits. She walked six and allowed four runs, all earned. Whitney Kiihnl came on in relief and threw 3.2 scoreless innings, striking out five and allowing two hits.

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