NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — In a dramatic, 12-inning ASUN Conference opener defined by stellar pitching and late-game heroics, the Lipscomb Bisons rallied to defeat the Eastern Kentucky Colonels 3-2 on Friday night at Ken Dugan Field at Stephen Lee Marsh Stadium.

The game’s most important sequence came in the bottom of the 12th inning, when Lipscomb catcher Brock Beddingfield, who had entered the game as a defensive replacement, led off the frame by launching a solo home run to left field. The walk-off blast, measured at 394 feet with a 104 mph exit velocity, ended a marathon contest that saw both teams squander scoring opportunities for nearly five full innings after the game was tied.

Eastern Kentucky struck immediately against Lipscomb ace Alexander Llinas. Leadoff batter Moreno worked a walk, and two pitches later, Dylan Littlefield connected for a two-run homer to right field, giving the Colonels a 2-0 lead just three batters into the game.

Lipscomb answered in the bottom of the second when third baseman Cam Pruitt crushed a 402-foot solo shot to center field off Eastern Kentucky starter Bradley Gagen, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

From there, the game transformed into a duel dominated by the pitchers. Gagen was brilliant for the Colonels, tossing six innings of one-run ball, allowing just the Pruitt home run while striking out four. He handed a 2-1 lead to the bullpen.

Lipscomb’s Llinas, the top star for the Bisons, shook off the first-inning homer to deliver a commanding performance. He logged 6 1/3 innings, surrendering two runs on four hits while striking out nine, keeping his team within reach.

The 2-1 score held into the bottom of the ninth. With Eastern Kentucky one out from victory, Lipscomb pinch-hitter Danny Ramirez stepped up and delivered a game-tying, solo home run to right field, sending the game to extra innings.

Both bullpens were nearly flawless in the extra frames. Eastern Kentucky’s Gavin Faulkner and Griffin Howell combined for four hitless innings of relief. Lipscomb’s Adam Jamison and Collin Bosley-Smith were equally dominant, with Bosley-Smith striking out three over two perfect innings.

The Colonels managed just six hits total, while the Bisons had nine, but neither could break through until Beddingfield’s final swing. The loss extended a difficult stretch for Eastern Kentucky, which fell to 7-19 overall and 0-1 in ASUN play. Lipscomb improved to 12-11 and 1-0 in the conference.

The two teams are scheduled to continue their three-game series on Saturday.