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Nashville, Tenn. - Zeke Dodson's single with one out in the 10th inning scored the game-winning run as Lipscomb outlasted USC Upstate 7-6 at Ken Dugan Field on Saturday afternoon.
Lipscomb improves to 17-14 overall and 1-1 in the Atlantic Sun, while Upstate falls to 15-16 and 1-3.
In the Upstate first inning, James Fowlkes reached on a two-out double down the right field line before a foulout ended the inning. In the Lipscomb half of the inning, leadoff batter Michael Gigliotti reached on a single, advanced to second thanks to an error on pickoff attempt and took third base on a wild pitch during a strikeout. Spartan starting pitcher Blake Whitney got out of the inning without allowing a run thanks to a popout and strikeout.
The Bisons got on the board in the second inning thanks to a solo home run by Allan Hooker. Dodson opened the inning with a single but was retired on a double play. Hooker hit his second home run of the series over the right field fence.
Hooker led off the fifth inning with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a flare to right field by Jeffrey Crisan. Crisan reached second on a sacrifice bunt before a bunt single by Gigliotti put runners on the corners. Whitney struck out Lee Soloman, with Gigliotti breaking for second after the strikeout. The Spartans caught Gigliotti in a rundown before throwing home to throw out Crisan who had attempted to score.
Adam Lee led off the sixth inning with a double, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a groundout by Dodson to give the hosts a 3-0 lead.
Fowlkes was hit by a pitch to begin the Upstate seventh. Charlie Carpenter followed with a double to left field, giving Upstate runners in scoring position with no outs. Cody Brittain brought home Fowlkes on a sacrifice fly but Lipscomb would get out of the inning without any further damage thanks to a groundout and flyout.
In the Lipscomb seventh inning, the Bisons scored three runs on a single, double and an Upstate error. All three runs scored with two outs in the inning.
Upstate scored five runs with two outs in the eighth inning to tie the game at 6-6. Daniel Fickas reached on an infield single before an error and a fielder's choice gave the Spartans runners at first and second. Jordan Ford singled to load the bases before a strikeout to Fowlkes. Carpenter reached on a bases loaded walk to make the 6-2 before Brittain cleared the bases with a double to center field. Jake Beaver tied the game on a base hit to left field.
In the Upstate ninth, Fickas reached on a one out single and advanced to third on a two out single by Ford. The inning ended on a sliding catch by Gigliotti in center field. Lipscomb went down in order in the ninth, forcing extra innings.
After Solomon opened the 10th with a groundout, Lee reached on a single to right field. Symonette reached on a fielder's choice while Lee advanced to second after Upstate relief pitcher Eric Birklund fielded a ground ball and made a wild throw to second base. Dodson ended the game with a single to right field, scoring Lee.
Brittain went 2-for-4 with a single, double and four RBI. Carpenter went 1-for-4 with a double, run scored and RBI. Shimko went 1-for-5 with a triple and run scored. Ford went 2-for-5 with two singles and a run scored.
Lee finished 3-for-5 with two doubles, a single, two runs scored and an RBI. Dodson went 2-for-5 with two singles and two RBI. Gigliotti, Solomon, Hooker and Crisan each had two hits.
Adam Stewart improved to 3-1 as he allowed one hit with a strikeout in 1.1 innings. Birklund (1-3) took the loss as he allowed an unearned run with two strikeouts in 1.1 innings.
The series concludes tomorrow at 2 p.m. Eastern/1 p.m. Central.
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