Most would think that an opposing team putting up between two and four runs in the very first inning would be a death knell for the home team. Yet on both Friday and Saturday, Lipscomb baseball proved that wasn’t the case. Facing off against Austin Peay, Lipscomb brought home the victory in both of their first two games against the Governors. Both games, however, were a battle. Friday, April 24, Lipscomb saw the Govs put up a whopping four runs in the first inning of the game. Though the fans initially despaired, the Bisons were quick to answer. Bringing six batters up in the bottom half of the second, Lipscomb seized every opportunity, including a passed ball, to put three runs on the board. That wasn’t enough for the Bisons, though, and in the bottom of the fifth, they brought three more players across home plate. Now leading 6-4, the energy in both the dugout and the stands was electric. Over 400 fans were in attendance, cheering on their respective teams. Though the Governors would manage to eke out one more run in the top of the seventh, it wouldn’t be enough. The game closed out just after nine with a Bisons’ victory, 6-5. Bisons’ senior left-handed pitcher Alexander Llinas took the win, while Bisons’ graduate student right-handed pitcher Kaleb Kantola earned the save. The Bisons headed into Saturday’s game full of energy, as did the Governors. However, the Governors’ energy quickly turned out to be negative, resulting in two ejections throughout the game. One of their players was ejected for swearing at the umpires from the dugout, but it was their head coach that made the greatest stir. Objecting to an out-at-first call that closed the top of the seventh, head coach Roland Fanning stormed across the field from his position on the third base line to argue with the first base umpire, Todd Henderson. Kicking up a slew of dirt upon reaching first base, he proceeded to get right in Henderson’s face, shouting out some very choice words. Henderson’s response was quick: “That’s it! You’re done!” Another umpire, Chris Deichman from third base, had to come over and separate the two. He then walked Fanning from first base to the dugout to gather his stuff, and then escorted him from the field. The Lipscomb fans in attendance waved goodbye, many of them standing, and quite a few cheering, having objected to Fanning’s poor sportsmanship throughout the two games. Though Austin Peay had started the game off in the dominant position again, bringing home two runs in the top of the first inning, the Bisons were quick to respond to the pressure. In fact, one might even say that the pressure fueled the Bisons, as every time the Govs’ put up a run, the Bisons answered. In fact, the Bisons put up a run in almost every inning. They logged one in the first, two in the third and three in the fourth. By the close of the fourth, they were leading 6-5. They added insurance to that with one run in the fifth and one in the sixth. Yet the Governors answered in the sixth, bringing home two runs to bring the score to 8-7, closing in on the Bisons’ lead. In the top of the seventh, they would advance even further, a home run off the bat of redshirt sophomore infielder Cole Johnson brought three home. Now the score was 10-8 in the Govs’ favor. But as with Friday’s game, the Bisons refused to stay down. Senior outfielder Keaton Mahan, who had come in to pinch hit during the bottom of the seventh, came up to the plate in the bottom of the eighth. Sophomore infielder Brady Miller was on second, while junior outfielder Jacob Tobias, pinch running, was in scoring position at third. The first pitch was a strike. The next was a ball, followed by a strike. With two outs on the board, the fans were on the edge of their seats. Mahan swung and fouled twice, staying in the fight. Then, it came. Driving a single out to left field, Mahan streaked for first. While the Govs’ scrambled for the ball, both Tobias and Miller tore for home base. The dugout and stands broke into cheers, as Mahan roared in celebration from first base. The Bisons were now tied with the Govs, 10-10. Then, the ninth inning. Redshirt freshman shortstop and right-handed pitcher Caden Shanks shut down the Govs in the top of the inning, holding them at 10. In the bottom of the inning, with two outs on the board, junior utility player Hutson Miles tripled out to right field. With Miles in scoring position, freshman infielder Cole Pippenger came in to pinch hit. He singled to center field, bringing Miles home, and the Lipscomb dugout and bullpen exploded. Vaulting over the fences, the Bisons raced out to first base, grabbing “Pipp” and running to outfield. There, they lifted Pipp into the air, pulled his jersey off of him and swung it around like a battle flag. Cheering and jumping up and down, the team made their way back to the dugout for their postgame meeting. While huddled in the dugout, head coach Jeff Forehand called out “what about the kiddddd?!” This led to a resounding cheer, followed by a chant of “Pipp! Pipp! Pipp!” that was taken up by the whole team. “It felt amazing,” Pippenger said, about hitting the winning single. “It was an incredible game, back and forth. The environment was great, and I couldn’t ask for anything better… Every inning they came out and hit us and we hit right back. We were there the whole time competing, battling.” Forehand spoke to how the team handled the pressure of the two games. “I think that earlier in the year we wouldn’t have responded the way we did today,” he explained. “But I think now, you’ve played several games, playing at home, and the environment was like it was… we responded pretty good. We walked that one off.” “The team fought really hard today,” Mahan said. “It was just, having to put some at bat’s together and really collectively doing it as a team to win that. It felt really good,” he grinned, referencing his game-tying hit. “I got down in a two-strike count and knew I needed to poke something the other way, just stayin’ on that heater. It felt really good hitting first and seeing those two runs come in and tie up the ballgame.” “Honestly, these past couple games have been tough,” Mahan added. “Skip thinks we’ve shown a lot of resilience and built up a lot of momentum going into the tournament and getting into this last part of the season… and I think under pressure we do really well as a team.” Unfortunately, the Bisons were unable to carry the momentum forward into their Sunday match against the Govs, falling 6-2. They did, however, win the series, 2-1, taking their overall record to 19-21 on the season. The Bisons’ next game will be at home, on Tuesday the 28 at 6pm, against Tennessee Tech. Featured image taken by Micah Barkley.
Starting July 1, 2026, the federal student loan system will change how borrowers repay their loans. While current borrowers will not see the immediate changes, students planning to borrow in the future could face fewer repayment options. “Most pieces are set, but things are still evolving,” said Assistant Director of Special Programs David Bender. “By July 1, that’s when students should expect to see everything set in stone.” For students taking out new federal loans after the changes, there will be two repayment plans. One option is a standard repayment plan with fixed monthly payments. Unlike the traditional 10-year plan, the length of repayment will depend on the total loan amount rather than automatically lasting 10 years. The second option is a new income-based plan called the Repayment Assistance Plan, or RAP. With RAP, monthly payments are based on income, not loan balance. Repayment can last up to 30 years, and any remaining balance after that period can be forgiven. However, that forgiven amount could be taxed. Some details are still being finalized, Bender said, and students should rely on official federal resources for updates. “StudentAid.gov is still the best resource as far as reading up on all those repayment plans and what’s changing,” he said. For many students, understanding repayment plans and long-term costs feels overwhelming. Amelie Burleson, a sophomore social work major, said tracking her loans has been difficult. “I tried to look on the website to see how much interest I’ve earned, but I wasn’t able to figure out the website,” Burleson said. “So, I kind of just gave up because I was confused.” The uncertainty around repayment makes growing balances feel intimidating. “I know I’m accumulating all this money that’s getting worse and worse every year,” she said. “That freaks me out a little bit for sure.” What this means for current borrowers Borrowers who take out loans before July 1 will not be required to change repayment plans immediately. Current borrowers can stay on their existing plan or switch to RAP when it becomes available. Borrowers enrolled in plans such as Parent PLUS, SAVE, PAYE or ICR may need to switch plans by 2028 as those options end. What this means for graduate students Students planning to attend graduate school after 2026 may face stricter borrowing limits. The Federal Grad PLUS loan program, which allowed students to borrow the full cost of attendance, is being eliminated. Federal loans may no longer cover all graduate school expenses, meaning students may have to rely more on private loans, institutional aid or scholarships. “Anytime you’re taking out a loan, assume that you have to pay back the whole loan,” Bender said. Featured image taken by Jacy Stricker.
The winter storm projected for January 2026 hit Lipscomb’s campus in a far different manner than expected. Though the forecast had called for up to 15 inches of snow, the campus saw only two to three inches. The ice that followed, however, would cause a problem. Clinging to all of the trees and power lines both on campus and around Nashville, the ice wreaked havoc. Tree limbs came crashing down all across campus with crashing thuds and rending cracks. Some smaller trees were even fully uprooted by the weight of the ice. Students were advised to avoid walking underneath trees whenever possible and to stay alert when crossing beneath one. Several of the trees exploded, with booms akin to a cannon being fired. The weight of the ice also yanked down power lines across the city. Lipscomb’s power went out around 11 a.m. Sunday, plunging every building on campus into darkness. Students gathered in the Bennett Campus Center – “the Stu,” to students – as soft alarms rang out through the dark building. The Stu’s permanent generator kicked on within the hour, garnering cheers from the students packed into the cafeteria upstairs and studying area downstairs. The cafeteria and Stu remained packed the entire rest of the day, students filling every chair and sofa in the building. Every power outlet was taken advantage of, many with power strips plugged in, as students charged their electronics. Personal televisions were also brought into the Stu and students put on the AFC football championship game and the Stanley Cup playoffs, cheers – and groans – filling the area known as Zebbie’s Lounge. Some students also brought their own PCs and played video games. Toward the evening, students received word that power would not be returned to campus; therefore, heat would not be working in their dorms. They were encouraged to shelter and sleep in other buildings: women from Fanning, Johnson and Elam in Bennett; women from The Bison and The Village in the nursing building; and men from High Rise and The Village in either Shamblin Theater or Sewell Hall. Sewell, Bennett and the nursing building were the only available options on campus with generators running. Students made the most of their powerless day, playing cards in circles on the floor of the Stu, or tackle football in the Quad beside Beaman Library. Groups of students sat together crocheting, weaving friendship bracelets, knitting and painting. Some started a spontaneous worship night in Shamblin, over a hundred students gathering and sitting on the stage to sing together. Some students chose to remain in their dorms for the night, despite the lack of heat, others chose to camp out in the buildings with generators. One girl even set up a tent in the middle of the Stu, and many of the athletes brought air mattresses and set up camp in Allen. The ice is expected to remain in the area for several days, as temperatures continue to hover below freezing. As of 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Lipscomb University is still without power. Featured image taken by Micah Barkley.
Most would think that an opposing team putting up between two and four runs in the very first inning would be a death knell for the home team. Yet on both Friday and Saturday, Lipscomb baseball proved that wasn’t the case. Facing off against Austin Peay, Lipscomb brought home the victory in both of their first two games against the Governors. Both games, however, were a battle. Friday, April 24, Lipscomb saw the Govs put up a whopping four runs in the first inning of the game. Though the fans initially despaired, the Bisons were quick to answer. Bringing six batters up in the bottom half of the second, Lipscomb seized every opportunity, including a passed ball, to put three runs on the board. That wasn’t enough for the Bisons, though, and in the bottom of the fifth, they brought three more players across home plate. Now leading 6-4, the energy in both the dugout and the stands was electric. Over 400 fans were in attendance, cheering on their respective teams. Though the Governors would manage to eke out one more run in the top of the seventh, it wouldn’t be enough. The game closed out just after nine with a Bisons’ victory, 6-5. Bisons’ senior left-handed pitcher Alexander Llinas took the win, while Bisons’ graduate student right-handed pitcher Kaleb Kantola earned the save. The Bisons headed into Saturday’s game full of energy, as did the Governors. However, the Governors’ energy quickly turned out to be negative, resulting in two ejections throughout the game. One of their players was ejected for swearing at the umpires from the dugout, but it was their head coach that made the greatest stir. Objecting to an out-at-first call that closed the top of the seventh, head coach Roland Fanning stormed across the field from his position on the third base line to argue with the first base umpire, Todd Henderson. Kicking up a slew of dirt upon reaching first base, he proceeded to get right in Henderson’s face, shouting out some very choice words. Henderson’s response was quick: “That’s it! You’re done!” Another umpire, Chris Deichman from third base, had to come over and separate the two. He then walked Fanning from first base to the dugout to gather his stuff, and then escorted him from the field. The Lipscomb fans in attendance waved goodbye, many of them standing, and quite a few cheering, having objected to Fanning’s poor sportsmanship throughout the two games. Though Austin Peay had started the game off in the dominant position again, bringing home two runs in the top of the first inning, the Bisons were quick to respond to the pressure. In fact, one might even say that the pressure fueled the Bisons, as every time the Govs’ put up a run, the Bisons answered. In fact, the Bisons put up a run in almost every inning. They logged one in the first, two in the third and three in the fourth. By the close of the fourth, they were leading 6-5. They added insurance to that with one run in the fifth and one in the sixth. Yet the Governors answered in the sixth, bringing home two runs to bring the score to 8-7, closing in on the Bisons’ lead. In the top of the seventh, they would advance even further, a home run off the bat of redshirt sophomore infielder Cole Johnson brought three home. Now the score was 10-8 in the Govs’ favor. But as with Friday’s game, the Bisons refused to stay down. Senior outfielder Keaton Mahan, who had come in to pinch hit during the bottom of the seventh, came up to the plate in the bottom of the eighth. Sophomore infielder Brady Miller was on second, while junior outfielder Jacob Tobias, pinch running, was in scoring position at third. The first pitch was a strike. The next was a ball, followed by a strike. With two outs on the board, the fans were on the edge of their seats. Mahan swung and fouled twice, staying in the fight. Then, it came. Driving a single out to left field, Mahan streaked for first. While the Govs’ scrambled for the ball, both Tobias and Miller tore for home base. The dugout and stands broke into cheers, as Mahan roared in celebration from first base. The Bisons were now tied with the Govs, 10-10. Then, the ninth inning. Redshirt freshman shortstop and right-handed pitcher Caden Shanks shut down the Govs in the top of the inning, holding them at 10. In the bottom of the inning, with two outs on the board, junior utility player Hutson Miles tripled out to right field. With Miles in scoring position, freshman infielder Cole Pippenger came in to pinch hit. He singled to center field, bringing Miles home, and the Lipscomb dugout and bullpen exploded. Vaulting over the fences, the Bisons raced out to first base, grabbing “Pipp” and running to outfield. There, they lifted Pipp into the air, pulled his jersey off of him and swung it around like a battle flag. Cheering and jumping up and down, the team made their way back to the dugout for their postgame meeting. While huddled in the dugout, head coach Jeff Forehand called out “what about the kiddddd?!” This led to a resounding cheer, followed by a chant of “Pipp! Pipp! Pipp!” that was taken up by the whole team. “It felt amazing,” Pippenger said, about hitting the winning single. “It was an incredible game, back and forth. The environment was great, and I couldn’t ask for anything better… Every inning they came out and hit us and we hit right back. We were there the whole time competing, battling.” Forehand spoke to how the team handled the pressure of the two games. “I think that earlier in the year we wouldn’t have responded the way we did today,” he explained. “But I think now, you’ve played several games, playing at home, and the environment was like it was… we responded pretty good. We walked that one off.” “The team fought really hard today,” Mahan said. “It was just, having to put some at bat’s together and really collectively doing it as a team to win that. It felt really good,” he grinned, referencing his game-tying hit. “I got down in a two-strike count and knew I needed to poke something the other way, just stayin’ on that heater. It felt really good hitting first and seeing those two runs come in and tie up the ballgame.” “Honestly, these past couple games have been tough,” Mahan added. “Skip thinks we’ve shown a lot of resilience and built up a lot of momentum going into the tournament and getting into this last part of the season… and I think under pressure we do really well as a team.” Unfortunately, the Bisons were unable to carry the momentum forward into their Sunday match against the Govs, falling 6-2. They did, however, win the series, 2-1, taking their overall record to 19-21 on the season. The Bisons’ next game will be at home, on Tuesday the 28 at 6pm, against Tennessee Tech. Featured image taken by Micah Barkley.
Starting July 1, 2026, the federal student loan system will change how borrowers repay their loans. While current borrowers will not see the immediate changes, students planning to borrow in the future could face fewer repayment options. “Most pieces are set, but things are still evolving,” said Assistant Director of Special Programs David Bender. “By July 1, that’s when students should expect to see everything set in stone.” For students taking out new federal loans after the changes, there will be two repayment plans. One option is a standard repayment plan with fixed monthly payments. Unlike the traditional 10-year plan, the length of repayment will depend on the total loan amount rather than automatically lasting 10 years. The second option is a new income-based plan called the Repayment Assistance Plan, or RAP. With RAP, monthly payments are based on income, not loan balance. Repayment can last up to 30 years, and any remaining balance after that period can be forgiven. However, that forgiven amount could be taxed. Some details are still being finalized, Bender said, and students should rely on official federal resources for updates. “StudentAid.gov is still the best resource as far as reading up on all those repayment plans and what’s changing,” he said. For many students, understanding repayment plans and long-term costs feels overwhelming. Amelie Burleson, a sophomore social work major, said tracking her loans has been difficult. “I tried to look on the website to see how much interest I’ve earned, but I wasn’t able to figure out the website,” Burleson said. “So, I kind of just gave up because I was confused.” The uncertainty around repayment makes growing balances feel intimidating. “I know I’m accumulating all this money that’s getting worse and worse every year,” she said. “That freaks me out a little bit for sure.” What this means for current borrowers Borrowers who take out loans before July 1 will not be required to change repayment plans immediately. Current borrowers can stay on their existing plan or switch to RAP when it becomes available. Borrowers enrolled in plans such as Parent PLUS, SAVE, PAYE or ICR may need to switch plans by 2028 as those options end. What this means for graduate students Students planning to attend graduate school after 2026 may face stricter borrowing limits. The Federal Grad PLUS loan program, which allowed students to borrow the full cost of attendance, is being eliminated. Federal loans may no longer cover all graduate school expenses, meaning students may have to rely more on private loans, institutional aid or scholarships. “Anytime you’re taking out a loan, assume that you have to pay back the whole loan,” Bender said. Featured image taken by Jacy Stricker.
The winter storm projected for January 2026 hit Lipscomb’s campus in a far different manner than expected. Though the forecast had called for up to 15 inches of snow, the campus saw only two to three inches. The ice that followed, however, would cause a problem. Clinging to all of the trees and power lines both on campus and around Nashville, the ice wreaked havoc. Tree limbs came crashing down all across campus with crashing thuds and rending cracks. Some smaller trees were even fully uprooted by the weight of the ice. Students were advised to avoid walking underneath trees whenever possible and to stay alert when crossing beneath one. Several of the trees exploded, with booms akin to a cannon being fired. The weight of the ice also yanked down power lines across the city. Lipscomb’s power went out around 11 a.m. Sunday, plunging every building on campus into darkness. Students gathered in the Bennett Campus Center – “the Stu,” to students – as soft alarms rang out through the dark building. The Stu’s permanent generator kicked on within the hour, garnering cheers from the students packed into the cafeteria upstairs and studying area downstairs. The cafeteria and Stu remained packed the entire rest of the day, students filling every chair and sofa in the building. Every power outlet was taken advantage of, many with power strips plugged in, as students charged their electronics. Personal televisions were also brought into the Stu and students put on the AFC football championship game and the Stanley Cup playoffs, cheers – and groans – filling the area known as Zebbie’s Lounge. Some students also brought their own PCs and played video games. Toward the evening, students received word that power would not be returned to campus; therefore, heat would not be working in their dorms. They were encouraged to shelter and sleep in other buildings: women from Fanning, Johnson and Elam in Bennett; women from The Bison and The Village in the nursing building; and men from High Rise and The Village in either Shamblin Theater or Sewell Hall. Sewell, Bennett and the nursing building were the only available options on campus with generators running. Students made the most of their powerless day, playing cards in circles on the floor of the Stu, or tackle football in the Quad beside Beaman Library. Groups of students sat together crocheting, weaving friendship bracelets, knitting and painting. Some started a spontaneous worship night in Shamblin, over a hundred students gathering and sitting on the stage to sing together. Some students chose to remain in their dorms for the night, despite the lack of heat, others chose to camp out in the buildings with generators. One girl even set up a tent in the middle of the Stu, and many of the athletes brought air mattresses and set up camp in Allen. The ice is expected to remain in the area for several days, as temperatures continue to hover below freezing. As of 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Lipscomb University is still without power. Featured image taken by Micah Barkley.