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5/7/2009 - SOFTBALL
Strong Pitching, Big Bats Lead Lady Bisons to Victory
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DeLAND, Fla. - The 2009 Atlantic Sun Championship presented by Holiday Inn Express continued with the No. 2 Lipscomb Lady Bisons defeating the No. 5 ETSU Lady Buccaneers, 6-0, in the second game of the day. Freshman of the Year Whitney Kiihnl picked up the victory making her record 17-8.
Lipscomb picks up its 17th shutout of the season, setting an NCAA era record for the Lady Bisons. Kiihnl throws her seventh shutout on the season. Kiihnl notched 10 strikeouts and held ETSU to two hits.
The Lady Bisons popped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Second-Team All-Conference outfielder Lauren Dortwegt and All-Freshman selection Courtney Billington hit singles, but ETSU made a throwing error to advance both runners.
With runners on second and third, First-Team All-Conference first baseman Kellie Sirus sneaked a double down the third base line to bring in her teammates. Second-Team All-Conference selection Christen Campbell singled to the right side to bring in Sirus. ETSU's pitcher Marissa Hardy closed out the inning by striking out Mackenzie Tucker.
The Lady Bucs struggled with pitching as Hardy allowed two more runs in the second inning when Second-Team All-Atlantic Sun selection Abby Keese smacked a double to bring in Dortwegt and Billington. After a wild pitch and in Hardy’s shortest appearance this season, Darci Gilbert took to the circle for ETSU.
The pace of the game slowed in the third through fifth inning with one run coming in the fourth from Sirus when Mollie Mitchell singled to left field.
Keese ended the game with two doubles for the first time in the season. Sirus and Keese picked up two RBI along with Mitchell and Campbell each knocking in one.
ETSU's Cheniece Cason has hit safely in 23 of her last 29 games. The 13 hits allowed by the pitching is the most allowed all season.
Lipscomb plays Mercer at 6:00 p.m. and ETSU faces the loser in the Campbell/Stetson match up at 4:00 p.m.
The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.
