DELAND, Fla. – In an ASUN Championship elimination game that saw the teams trade four lead changes, it was Michael Gigliotti and his Lipscomb Bisons who finished on top to keep their season alive.

The Bisons (28-27) entered the day with their backs against the wall after falling to top-seeded Jacksonville in the tournament’s opening game on Wednesday, but behind a career high 5-RBI effort from Gigliotti, the Purple and Gold powered past No. 2 Stetson 8-6 Thursday afternoon in front of the Hatters home crowd at Melching Field.

With the victory, Lipscomb advances to play in a 2 p.m. game on Friday against an opponent to be determined later today. Stetson closes the book on its season with the loss.

The home-standing Hatters, who were playing in their second game of the day after losing to No. 5 Kennesaw State 10-5 earlier in the afternoon, struck first in the bottom of the opening inning off a 2-RBI single from Jorge Arenas.

In the top of the second frame Lipscomb responded with three runs to grab a 3-2 lead. With two outs on the board, Blake Thomas singled and Allan Hooker drew a walk to get things rolling. Jeffrey Crisan drove in Thomas with a soft liner into left field before Gigliotti looped a 2-RBI single into shallow center to give the Bisons control.

Lipscomb added to its lead in the top of the fourth when Crisan knocked in his second run of the afternoon on a sac fly to center, extending the lead to 4-2.

In the bottom of the inning it was Stetson’s turn as the Hatters strung together a trio of singles to regain the lead at 5-4 following a 2-RBI single from Andrew MacNeil.

The two-out magic continued for Lipscomb in the sixth when Gigliotti destroyed an 0-2 pitch and sent it over the 375-foot sign in right center for a 3-run bomb. Thomas and Hooker scored after reaching on a single and an error.

Energized by the homer, Lee Solomon and Cade Sorrells followed with back-to-back singles before Zeke Dodson ripped an RBI-single through the left side to give the Bisons an 8-5 lead.

On the mound it was a duel to the last two ASUN Pitcher’s of the Year as Brady Puckett battled Stetson’s Logan Gilbert. Neither hurler was sharp, but it was former who got picked up by his offense.

Puckett worked 6.0 innings, while giving up five earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and two walks. He improved his record to 8-6 with the win.

The previously undefeated Gilbert suffered his first loss of the season, falling to 10-1. The sophomore righty was lifted after 4.2 frames where he allowed four runs on five hits. He struck out four Bisons and walked three.

Senior Denton Norman relieved Puckett and pitched the final three stanzas to earn his seventh save of the year. He only allowed one base runner and struck out two.

courtesy LUAD