Box Score (.pdf)

Nashville, Tenn. – The Lipscomb Bisons scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat the USC Upstate baseball team 5-4 at Ken Dugan Field on Sunday afternoon. 

Lipscomb improves to 18-14 overall and 2-1 in the Atlantic Sun, while Upstate drops to 15-17 and 1-4. 

Lipscomb got on the board in the first inning as Michael Gigliotti led off with a single and advanced to second after Lee Solomon was hit by a pitch. A sacrifice bunt advanced the runners into scoring position before Gigliotti scored on a groundout to give the Bisons a 1-0 lead. 

Upstate plated three runs on five hits in the second inning. Cody Brittain led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a Jake Beaver base hit. After a fielder's choice retired Brittain at third base, Anthony Vaglica loaded the bases with a single to right field. Daniel Fickas gave Upstate a 2-1 lead with a two-run single to right field that scored Beaver and Zach Krider. J.J. Shimko was hit by a pitch to reload the bases, followed by a Jordan Ford single that brought home a run. 

The Bisons cut the Upstate lead to 3-2 in the home-half of the second inning. Tevin Symonette led off with a single, advanced to second on a ground and scored on a two-out single by Jackson Furstace.

Beaver led off the Upstate sixth with a single. After a strikeout and flyout, Fickas reached on an infield single that moved Beaver to second before Shimko lined a single to right field that scored Beaver for a 4-2 Spartan lead. Upstate had the bases loaded with two outs in the seventh inning before a strikeout ended the frame. 

Lipscomb got a two-out rally started in the seventh inning on a Gigliotti double down the right field line. Soloman followed with a single that scored Gigliotti to cut the Spartan lead to 4-3. A passed ball and a pair of walks loaded the bases for Tyler Bethune, who hit a ground ball that Krider dove and fired to first base to end the inning. 

The Bisons opened the ninth inning with a Gigliotti double followed by a Solomon sacrifice bunt to put the tying run on third base. Adam Lee brought Gigliotti home with a single to tie the game. Lee would steal second and then advanced to third on an Upstate error during a pickoff attempt. Zeke Dodson lined a single to right field, scoring Lee and giving Lipscomb the series win. 

Fickas went 3-for-4 with three singles and two RBI. Beaver finished 2-for-5 with two singles and two runs scored while Brittain went 2-for-5 with two singles. Shimko and Ford each had a single and RBI.

Symonette went 4-for-4 with four singles and a run scored. Gigliotti went 3-for-4 with two singles, a double and three runs scored. 

Kyle Kemp (1-1) earned the win, allowing one hit with a walk and three strikeouts in two innings. Richie Lacell (0-3) took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits in 0.1 innings. 

Upstate travels to Georgia State on Tuesday before opening a six-game homestand on Wednesday against Gardner-Webb. 

Follow Upstate baseball on your mobile device, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.