A walk to remember: Kai Holm’s bases-loaded discipline crowns Lipscomb ASUN Champions
For the fourth time in program history, Lipscomb baseball is the ASUN Conference champion.
The Bisons rallied in the ninth inning and won 5-4 in 10 innings against North Alabama on Saturday afternoon at Melching Field to claim the ASUN Tournament title.
With the victory, Lipscomb secured an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament. Junior infielder Cam Pruitt was named the ASUN Tournament MVP.
North Alabama struck first against Lipscomb graduate pitcher Collin Bosley-Smith. In the top of the first inning, the North Alabama Lions used four hits, including RBI singles from senior outfielder Nash Rippen and junior catcher Will Millard, to take a 2-0 lead.
Lipscomb answered in the bottom of the inning. Junior utility player Hutson Miles singled and senior utility player Aaron Stelogeannis doubled to put two runners in scoring position before a walk to Pruitt loaded the bases. Junior outfielder Jordan Thomas then drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in the first run, and graduate infielder Kai Holm followed with a sacrifice fly to center field to tie the game at 2-2.
The teams traded runs in the middle innings. In the top of the fourth, the Lions’ redshirt freshman outfielder Cayden Sheffield drove in a run with a single. An outfield error on the play allowed the Lions to take a 3-2 lead. Lipscomb answered in the bottom of the fourth when Pruitt drove in Miles with an RBI single to tie it at 3-3. North Alabama regained a 4-3 lead in the eighth on another RBI single from Sheffield.
During the final three outs in the ninth, Lipscomb tied the game. Sophomore first baseman Blake Carter led off with a single to left-center field and was replaced by redshirt sophomore utility player Eric Harper. Harper stole second, and freshman catcher Brock Beddingfield hit a ball to center field that was misplayed for a two-out error. This allowed Harper to score and force extra innings.
Lipscomb’s bullpen kept North Alabama off the board in the top of the 10th. Stelogeannis led off the bottom half with a single to right-center, and Pruitt drew a walk to put two runners on. After North Alabama brought in senior pitcher Landon Scruggs, a pickoff error moved Stelogeannis to third.
The Lions intentionally walked Thomas to load the bases, but Holm then drew a full-count walk to force in Stelogeannis for the winning run.
Lipscomb will learn its NCAA Tournament destination and opening-round opponent during the selection show Monday at 11 a.m.
Featured image courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics
