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Box score (PDF)NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Lipscomb University baseball team used a three-run fifth inning to lift the Bisons to a 5-3 victory over Northern Kentucky University in Atlantic Sun Conference action at Dugan Field on Friday evening.
Jonathan Allison finished 3-for-5 with a home run to lead Lipscomb, which improved to 25-18 overall and 13-6 in the Atlantic Sun. Austin Sistrunk and Tyson Ashcraft each went 2-for-4 with a run scored, and Ashcraft recorded one RBI for the Bisons.
Lipscomb starter Ian Martinez-McGraw improved to 7-1 on the year after surrendering just two runs on seven hits over 6.2 innings of work. He struck out six batters and walked three. Jason Ziegler earned his fourth save of the season, pitching 2.1 innings of relief with one strikeout, and he gave up one run on one hit.
Cole Bauml tripled in the top of the first inning to threaten early but was left stranded as Allison's lead-off home run over the right-field wall gave Lipscomb a 1-0 advantage at the end of the frame.
The Bisons added a run to their total in the second as Sistrunk singled through the left side to start the inning, and he then stole second. Ashcraft then sent a 1-2 shot into left field, and Sistrunk came home for a 2-0 Lipscomb lead.
NKU cut its deficit in half in the top of the fourth inning.
Logan Spurlin extended his on-base streak to 39 games when he was hit by a Martinez-McGraw pitch, but he was out on the next play as
Jordan Procyshen reached on a fielder's choice.
Cody Kuzniczci drew a walk, and
David Head singled to center field to load the bases.
Josh Myers's sacrifice fly brought Procyshen across the plate for a 2-1 Bisons lead.
Dominic Faron followed with a single to shallow right field, but Kuzniczci hesitated on the play and was thrown out at home.
Bauml tied the game in the fifth frame when his RBI single to left field allowed
Quint Heady, who singled to lead off the inning, to score.
Lipscomb answered in the bottom with its three-run outburst to regain the lead for good. Grant Massey hit a lead-off double to left field before Drew Adams was walked. Josh Lee's double then scored Massey and Adams before Adam Lee singled to score Ashcraft, who singled and stole second to set up the play, for a 5-2 advantage.
Kuzniczci's fifth home run of the season accounted for the final run of the game in the top of the eighth.
Bauml and Heady both finished 2-for-4 for NKU, which fell to 12-27 overall and 5-11 in the Atlantic Sun.
Kyle Colletta (0-3) surrendered four runs on eight hits to take the loss for the Norse, and he finished with two strikeouts and two walks in 4.1 innings of work.
Cody Cooper pitched 3.2 innings of relief and collected four strikeouts, while giving up one run on four hits.
The two teams will return to Dugan Field on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. Eastern. Sunday's series finale, which will be broadcast on ASun.TV, is slated for a 2 p.m. start. Links to live stats and John Asalon's audio broadcast for both days will be available at NKUNorse.com.
