The Lions, seeded sixth in the TranSouth Conference tournament, open the event against the top seed, No. 2 Cumberland (Tenn.) University at noon on Monday at Brooks Stadium in Paducah, Ky.

Cumberland (46-8, 17-2) swept a three-game series from FHU earlier this season, winning by scores of 16-5, 4-1 and 5-1. The Bulldogs enter the tournament riding a 17 game winning streak while averaging an impressive 10.8 runs per game. The four runs they scored against Freed-Hardeman in their series was their fewest in any game during the streak.

The Bulldogs lead the nation in home runs with 115 and tied an NAIA record with six homeruns in an inning and 11 in a game on May 7. Seven players have hit at least 10 home runs this season, led by Matt Greener's 25 bombs. Greener leads nation in home runs, hits (97), RBI (83), total bases (195) and slugging percentage (1.005), and his .500 batting average ranks second nationally.

Freed-Hardeman (33-22, 9-12) comes into the tournament on a three-game losing streak after being swept by Union (Tenn.) University in the final series of the regular season.

Derek Williford (2-1, 2.97 ERA) could be head coach Jonathan Estes' choice to try to slow down the Cumberland bats. Williford has won his last two starts and limited the Bulldogs to three runs in five innings in a start against them on April 17.

FHU will play again on Tuesday at either noon or 3:00 PM depending on the outcome of its opening game.