By Dustin Semore and
Chris Goodwich
On Friday January 27, the (RV) Freed-Hardeman University Lions baseball program kept the momentum rolling into the second game of the day’s twin bill. Freed-Hardeman poured on five runs in the eighth inning before a three-run ninth put the bow on a 9-0 shutout to earn a series win.
The Freed-Hardeman (2-0) bats came alive late in the second game of the day, pounding out 14 base hits and scoring eight runs in the last two innings of a 9-0 victory over Loyola.
With Colton Huntt (1-0) on the hill for the Lions, a leadoff single from WolfPack was followed by three straight swinging strikeouts. Huntt kept the strikeouts rolling, fanning the first two batters of the bottom of the second inning.
Adam Smithson led off the top of the third inning before stealing second base. Mason Libla’s single was followed by Zach Sanders being hit by a pitch to load up the bases with no outs. All three runners were on the move after a passed ball, but the Loyola catcher recovered in time to throw out Smithson at the plate to keep the Lions off of the board. Driving in his fourth run of the day, Will McCall grounded out to drive in Sanders to give FHU a 1-0 lead after three complete innings.
FHU would tally five hits across the next four innings but were unable to capitalize, leading the teams into the eighth inning with the Lions leading 1-0.
After a flyout was followed by back-to-back walks to McCall and Sean Rooney. Baron Ratliff came on to pinch run for McCall; however, the extra speed proved unnecessary. William Kelley scorched his third hit of the day over the fence in left-center field for a three-run blast, giving the Lions a 4-0 lead. The eighth inning kept rolling for the Lions with Smithson’s single driving in both Christian Presley, who reached via a walk, and Dawson Massengale – on base after a fielder’s choice – to cap off a five-run eighth inning and giving the Lions a 6-0 advantage.
The day was far from done for the men in maroon and white, with McCall taking advantage of a fielding error by the WolfPack, scoring on Rooney’s RBI double. Rooney would wrap around and score thanks to Camden Madding’s grounder to second base before Presley’s two-out single plated Kelley to finish the Lions’ offensive exploits in a 9-0 victory.
Huntt finished his victorious outing after five innings, striking out six batters. Montana Dickerson tossed three innings of solid relief, giving up a pair of hits before Colton Bryan pitched the ninth inning of the combined shutout.
William Kelley ended the second game going 3-5 and driving in three runs. Sean Rooney saw the ball well to the tune of a 3-4 outing at the plate and driving in one run. Mason Libla and Adam Smithson both tallied a pair of base knocks in the victory.
After obtaining two wins on Friday, the (RV) Freed-Hardeman University Lions fell short in game three against the No. 23 Loyola (La.) University WolfPack.
Freed-Hardeman (2-1) got on the scoreboard first with a two-RBI single by Trace Anderson to put the Lions ahead 2-0. The WolfPack (1-2) battled back to tie up the scoreboard 2-2 in the bottom of the 4th inning.
The Lions could not scratch any more runs across despite the efforts of a big 3-4 day for Cam Madding.
Alex Huey got the start, going four innings while striking out three opponents. Brent Wisdom (0-1) was charged with the loss.
It was a great weekend for head baseball coach Jess Trask, a large series win over a Top-25 opponent in his first series as the new head coach of the Freed-Hardeman University Lions.
Up Next – The Lions will be back in action on February 3 against Bryan (Tenn.) College in their first home series of the season. The four-game series at Five Wells Field has an anticipated first-pitch start time set for 2 p.m.
