By Eli Walker
FHU Student of Sports Administration
The Freed-Hardeman University Lions completed the series sweep against Bryan College Saturday evening. Throughout every game, the pitchers hit their spots and executed pitches while the hitters took great at bats and came through to drive in runs.
The Lions were able to capitalize on a couple free passes and errors and took an early 1-0 lead against Bryan heading into the bottom part of the inning. Alex Huey got the nod to start on the mound. Huey was dominant in his first inning, going 1-2-3-while collecting a pair of strikeouts.
The team was unable to get anything going in the top of the second. Huey again kept a fast pace, posting another 1-2-3 while striking out two more batters.
The Lions added to their lead starting off with a solo bomb off the scoreboard from Christian Presley. The team also took advantage of a Bryan error and a sac fly to score two more runs. The lead was extended to 4-0. Huey continued to deal against Bryan as he went 9 up 9 down after the first three innings.
The team went down quietly in the top of the fourth. The defense continued to make plays behind the pitcher, but Huey’s bid for perfection was ended when he surrendered a two-out hit.
The Lions were unsuccessful in their attempt to scratch a run across in the fifth after threatening with two runners on. Bryan scored on a three-run double. Huey exited the game after 4 two-thirds innings, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits, 1 walk, and 6 strikeouts. Mason Morgan entered for Huey and recorded the final out of the inning.
The Freed-Hardeman offense fell silent in the sixth innings and were not able to get anything going. Despite a lead off single for Bryan, the Freed-Hardeman defense was able to work behind the pitcher to get them back in the dugout.
The Lions were finally able to score a couple runs in the seventh inning after a balked-in run and also an RBI from Zach Sanders. This brought the score to 6-3. Bryan threatened to score runs in the bottom half of the inning, but a spectacular throw from right field made by Anthony Jarvis cut a runner down heading to third.
The Lions went down 1-2-3 in the top of the eighth. Morgan got two quick outs but Bryan again threatened to score after a hit, a walk, and a wild pitch. However, the Lions escaped the danger after a fly out to right. Morgan exited the game after pitching three one-third innings, allowing 0 runs on three hits and three walks.
The offense tried to get something going in the last inning but ended by hitting into a double play. Quin Bennett came in the game to close for the Lions. Bennett made quick work of Bryan, striking out the first batter and then getting the hitter to ground into a 5-4-3 double play. Morgan earned the win and Bennett collected the save. The Lions won 6-3.
The Freed-Hardeman University Lions look forward to their first home series at Five Wells Field next weekend. The first game of the weekend is set for 3 p.m. against Lyon.
