By Dustin Semore
FHU Sports Information Director
A few weeks after breaking (RV) Freed-Hardeman University’s career strikeout record, Alex Huey placed his name among a three-way tie for the most wins as a Lion with victory 31 coming Saturday afternoon against Thomas More (Ky.) University. The Lions tallied five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to help to a 7-4 win over the Saints.
After FHU (13-10, 3-5 MSC) and TMU both went hitless in the first two innings, the Saints led off the top of the third inning with a single. A walk was followed by a sacrifice bunt, eventually allowing that leadoff hit to wrap around and score on a groundout.
The first time through FHU’s order, the Thomas More (11-10, 4-4 MSC) starter sat down all nine Lions that stepped to the plate. That changed on the second trip through the order for FHU when Christian Presley led off the inning with a ground-rule double. Zach Sanders and Will McCall kept the bats rolling with back-to-back singles, with McCall’s driving in Presley to knot the game 1-1. Sean Rooney hammed a hard grounder that took a friendly hop over the shortstop’s head to bring home Sanders and take a 2-1 lead. Mason Libla (5) would clear the bases with a 3-run homer to right field, putting FHU on top 5-1 and chasing the Saint starter in the process.
The Saints would answer with a set of runs in the top of the fifth inning, plating one on a wild pitch before a double scored TMU’s third run to cut into FHU’s lead 5-3.
McCall helped give the Lions some insurance when he followed Sanders’ single with his sixth homer of the season to put FHU on top 7-3. An RBI double for Thomas More in the top of the sixth inning, but neither team would score again as the Lions would claim the 7-4 victory.
Alex Huey (3-2) earned the victory after tossing six innings, allowing six hits and punching out three. Nolan Wells (4) picked up the save, striking out two Saints in the closing effort.
FHU tallied eight total hits with Will McCall and Zach Sanders each collecting a pair of hits, with McCall joining Mason Libla in driving in a team-high three runs.
