DELAND, Fla. (Interstat) — Lipscomb used a three-run fifth inning to break open a tie game and defeat Florida Gulf Coast 4-1 on Thursday at Melching Field at Conrad Park in DeLand, Fla., in an ASUN Conference contest.

The Bisons improved to 27-24 overall while the Eagles fell to 35-21.

Left fielder Jordan Thomas drove in two runs and scored once, leading Lipscomb’s six-hit attack. Shortstop Kai Holm added a double and an RBI, and right-handed pitcher Alexander Llinas worked 7 2/3 innings for the win, allowing one earned run on four hits with one strikeout.

Florida Gulf Coast starter Chris Diaz took the loss. In 4 1/3 innings, Diaz gave up two earned runs on no hits but walked four and struck out three.

The game remained scoreless through the first two innings as both pitchers worked efficiently. Lipscomb broke through in the third. With one out, Mason Stelogeannis singled and advanced to third on a double by Jake Pruitt. Thomas grounded out to second base, scoring Stelogeannis for a 1-0 lead.

The Eagles answered in the fifth. After two quick outs, Jayden Gonzalez singled and Dawson Comer singled to put runners on first and second. But Aiden Cayden grounded into a shortstop-to-second-to-first double play to end the threat.

The bottom of the fifth proved decisive. Diaz walked Stelogeannis to start the inning and was replaced by reliever Kyle Meeks. Pruitt greeted Meeks with an RBI double down the left-field line, scoring Stelogeannis to put Lipscomb ahead 2-1. Thomas then singled up the middle, driving in Pruitt, and promptly stole second. Holm followed with a double to left, scoring Thomas to make it 4-1.

Lipscomb’s bullpen sealed the victory. After Llinas exited with one out in the eighth, Adam Jamison recorded the final two outs of the inning, striking out one. Kaleb Kantola pitched a perfect ninth, striking out two and earning the save.

Florida Gulf Coast’s only run came in the eighth. With one out, Ethan Gagnon singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single through the right side by Owen Dempsey. But the Eagles could not capitalize further. Jamison entered and induced a strikeout and a groundout to strand two runners.

Lipscomb’s defense turned two double plays and catcher Alejandro Ludeiro threw out a runner attempting to steal second in the third inning.

The game was part of the ASUN tournament, though the specific bracket placement was not immediately clear. Florida Gulf Coast entered the contest having won three of its previous four games, including a series win over Jacksonville last weekend. Lipscomb had won four of its last five, including a sweep of Central Arkansas on the road.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Florida Gulf Coast 8, Lipscomb 7, and Interstat’s ELO system gave the Eagles a 64.40 percent probability to win.