By Dustin Semore
FHU Sports Information Director
Needing four strikeouts to pass Josh Hester as (RV) Freed-Hardeman University’s career strikeout leader, the graduate southpaw fanned a University of Mobile (Ala.) Ram in each of the first four innings to place his name at the top of the leaderboard with his career’s 323rd punchout. The Chapel Hill native would add five more to the total as he led his Lions to a 2-1 win.
Speeding through the first three innings, Huey and his Mobile (10-2) counterpart dealt hitless innings until Sean Rooney planted a single into left field for the day’s first base hit. Christian Presley followed by laying down a bunt and beating the throw to put Rooney into scoring position, setting up Trace Anderson, whose two-out double would plate Rooney as the afternoon’s first run.
Knowing the offensive threat the Rams posed, the Lions (9-4) continued to utilize two-out rallies to add insurance. After Mason Libla drew a walk, his courtesy runner in Adam Smithson was off to the races to score on Anderson’s second double of the day. The Rams added a run in the top of the seventh on a solo homer, but Huey settled to strike out the next two batters.
Allowing two hits while striking out nine Rams, Alex Huey (1-1) picked up his first win of the 2023 campaign to knock on the door of another FHU pitching record. With the complete game victory, Huey now needs three victories to surpass FHU Sports Hall of Famers Josh Hester and Brandon Guske’s 31 career wins.
Trace Anderson and Christian Presley led the Lion offense, tallying two base knocks each with Anderson’s bat driving in both FHU runs.
