Friday, March 26, 2010

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 26, 2010) - Lipscomb's Josh Smith was dominant striking out fifteen as the ETSU baseball team dropped the series opener to the Bisons 9-4 Friday night at Dugan Field in Nashville, Tenn.

Smith earned a complete game victory improving to 4-1 allowing four runs on five hits as Lipscomb improved to 7-15 overall and 2-2 in Atlantic Sun play.

Junior Chas Byrne (Johnson City, Tenn.) was tabbed with the loss for the Bucs (14-5, 3-1 A-Sun) surrendering eight runs (three earned) on five hits with seven strikeouts and three walks.

Catcher Derek Trent (Kingsport, Tenn.) led the Buccaneers offensively going 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI.

ETSU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as first baseman Paul Hoilman (Johnson City, Tenn.) doubled in freshman Andrew Green (Powell, Tenn.).

Lipscomb tied the game at 1-all in the bottom of the third on a Lee Wilson RBI single. Later in the inning, the Bisons took a 2-1 lead as M.L. Williams came in to score on a sacrifice fly by Zach Messer.

The Bisons jumped out to a commanding 8-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth as Lipscomb scored six runs on two hits and three ETSU errors. Messer had a three-run in the park home run in the inning.

In the sixth, centerfielder Matthew Scruggs (Knoxville, Tenn.) came around to score from second on a RBI single by Trent to make the score 8-2 Bisons.

ETSU cut the lead to 8-4 in the top of the eighth as Trent launched a two-run home run over the fence in right for his fifth home run of the season.

Lipscomb capped off the scoring in the bottom of the eighth as Ryan Wilkins came in to score on a Tyler Wilson sac fly to make the final 9-4.

The Bucs are back in action tomorrow as they will face the Bison in a doubleheader to close out the series. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. Please visit www.ETSUBucs.com for more information on ETSU baseball and all other Buccaneer athletic news.

Lipscomb 9, ETSU 4 (March 26, 2010 at Nashville, Tenn.)
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ETSU............ 100  001  020      -      4      5   4  (14-5, 3-1 A-Sun)

LU.................. 002  600  01x    -  9      7      0   (7-15, 2-2 A-Sun)

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Pitchers: ETSU - Chas Byrne; Derek Bushey (6); Joseph Timp (7); Lee Hall (8)

LU - Josh Smith

Win - Josh Smith (4-1) Loss - Chas Byrne (3-3)

HR - ETSU - Derek Trent (5)

LU - Zach Messer (1)