By Chris Goodwich
Baseball Intern
With the series evened up one to one, the (RV) Freed-Hardeman University Lions head to victory with an 8-5 win over the University of Tennessee Southern Firehawks. The Lions outhit the FireHawks 14 hits to eight.
The Lions (24-19, 12-9 MSC) started the ballgame with a quick start. Christian Presley led off with a single. Following a wild pitch and being moved over to the third base, Will McCall brought home Presley with an RBI groundout to help the Lions take a 1-0 lead. Fast-forwarding to the bottom of the sixth inning, the Firehawks (27-12, 12-8 MSC) made some noise and took a 3-1 lead over the Lions.
However, the Lions did not take that lightly as William Kelley led off with a single to help get the rally started for the Lions. Following his at-bat, Adam Smithson tacked on another single to have runners at first and second base. With Presley at the plate, he singled to bring home another run to make the score 3-2 as the Firehawks still lead; however, following that at-bat, the Lions tie the ballgame up 3-3 on a wild pitch by the FireHawks pitcher. Cam Madding helped get the Lions the lead with an RBI single to bring home Presley to help the Lions jump out to a 4-3 lead.
In the top of the eighth inning, the Lions looked to add to their lead. Sean Rooney led off the inning with a double to get things rolling. Following a sacrifice bunt by Zach Sanders, Rooney made his way over to the third base. With a runner on third with one out, Trace Anderson entered as a pinch hitter and made the most of the opportunity as he hit an RBI single to help the Lions jump ahead 5-3. Onto the bottom of the eighth inning, the FireHawks even everything up 5-5.
The Lions were looking to take the lead in the top of the ninth, and they did so. Smithson led off the top of the inning with a single with Presley following in his footsteps with a single of his own. Then, with a wild pitch by the FireHawks pitcher, the Lions moved up to runners on second and third base. With McCall at the plate, he helped the Lions jump out front to a 7-5 lead with a two-run single. After advancing to second on the throw, Rooney brought him home on an RBI single to stamp the Lions an 8-5 victory.
In the starting role, Colton Bryant was excellent today, pitching six innings allowing five hits, and striking out six batters. Nolan Wells was first in relief, pitching one and two-thirds innings while allowing two hits and striking out three batters. Seth Creasy (3-1) wins for the Lions as he pitched one-third innings, allowing one hit and striking out one batter.
