By Dustin Semore
FHU Information Director
The No. 22 Freed-Hardeman University Lions led 9-0 before the hosting No. 4 University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) Patriots rallied to score seven in the fifth inning before a walkoff grand slam ended the 14-10 series finale.
The FHU Lions (30-13, 10-5 MSC) got things rolling in the top of the second inning with a double down the line in left from Cam Madding being followed by Jordan Carter drawing a walk. Adam Smithson the connected for a single to left to plate both Madding and Carter to take a 2-0 lead.
FHU opened the top of the fourth with a pair of walks and a single setting up Brady Spring to blast his season’s nine long ball of the year on a grand slam. The Lions extended their lead thanks to an error and a double-steal from Cade Fuller and Cannon Daversa with the latter scoring FHU’s eighth run. JJ Pruneau then singled home the seventh run of the inning to give the Lions a 9-0 lead.
The Patriots (36-5, 11-1 MSC) led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run before tacking on seven runs in the bottom of the fifth thanks in part to a home run and double to narrow the score to 9-8 in favor of the maroon and white.
UC launched another home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to knot the game 9-9. After Carter led off the seven with a walk, Smithson had another single before Christian Presley traded a bruise for a base and loaded the bags. Daversa lifted a sacrifice fly to give FHU a 10-9 edge.
A bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the eighth leveled the score at 10-10 before two walks and a single loaded the bases for the game-ending two-out grand slam, closing the book on the 14-10 game.
Evan Koob (1-1) was charged with the loss in relief of Colton Bryant and Seth Creasy. Each of the three FHU hurlers struck out two Patriots.
Adam Smithson was a tough out, going 4-5 from the dish while Cam Madding had two hits. Brady Spring extended his on-base streak to 26 games with his grand slam.
