Nashville, Tenn. - Host Lipscomb (35-9, 12-2 Atlantic Sun) pitched two shutouts against the Stetson softball team (24-19, 6-6 A-Sun) on Friday at Draper Diamond, beating the Hatters 5-0 and 1-0. Stetson managed just one hit against national earned run average leader Whitney Kiihnl (0.62 ERA); the Lady Bisons were receiving votes in both national polls until this past week.
Senior catcher Jessica Lokeinsky (Cooper City, Fla.) got Stetson's only hit against Kiihnl in the opener, a single to lead off the top of the fifth. First baseman Kellie Sirus went two for four with four RBI and a three-run home run to lead the Lady Bisons; second baseman Abby Keese also went deep for a solo shot in the ballgame. Senior pitcher Nicole Peltz (Navarre, Fla.) allowed four runs, three earned on seven hits and no walks in four innings to take the loss; she struck out three. Kiihnl had 10 strikeouts and improved to an eye-popping 23-2 on the year.
Senior pitcher Amanda Lindsey (Byhalia, Miss.) was nearly flawless for Stetson in the nightcap as the Hatters out-hit Lipscomb 5-2; unfortunately for her and the Hatters, one of those hits was a solo home run off the bat of shortstop Courtney Billington in the bottom of the fourth. Christen Campbell tossed four shutout innings to earn the win while Kiihnl came back in to start the fifth and slammed the door with three no-hit innings, striking out five. Senior designated player Katie Lawrence (Hilliard, Fla.) doubled for Stetson, her third two-bagger on the year.
The Hatters will look to bounce back tomorrow in another neighborhood of the Music City as they take on Belmont in a doubleheader at Aquinas Field starting at noon Central time (1 p.m. ET). Belmont Athletics will be running Game Tracker at belmontbruins.com.