Box Score PULASKI, Tenn. - Evan Mansell and Kirkland Wheeler hit home runs in key spots, helping the Freed-Hardeman Lions earn a double-header split with Martin Methodist (Tenn.) College on Friday night, losing the opener 3-1 before winning the nightcap 12-7.

Wheeler broke a 4-4 tie in the fifth inning with a two-out, three-run shot - his first of the year - and Mansell followed in the sixth with a two-run blast (7) that also came with two outs.

Martin Methodist answered with three runs in the sixth after a two-out error by Kyle Dearing extended the inning, but Josh Suttles retired the side in order in the seventh to earn his fifth save of the year.

The Lions (26-26, 11-12) gave Suttles a cushion after scoring two more times in the top of the final inning on a sacrifice fly by Robert Prieto and an RBI single by Leamond Arthur.

Josh Reynolds (5-1) picked up the win in relief of Hunter Newby, allowing one run in two innings.

Reynolds and Andy Southard combined to allow just five hits in the first game, but MMC used three pitchers to hold the Lions to one run on four hits. Prieto drove in FHU's lone run in the third on a single that plated Dearing from second base.

However, MMC's Travis Garcia hit a two-out, two-run home run to put the RedHawks on top.

Joe Mike accounted for two of FHU's four hits in game one and added a pair of hits in the second game. Justin Mackey went 3-for-4 in game two while Prieto and Mansell each had two hits.

The win in the nightcap clinched a fifth-place finish and a spot in next week's conference tournament for the Lions, who will face No. 2 seed Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) University on Monday at 3:30 at Union (Tenn.) University's Fesmire Field.

The series and the regular season concludes on Saturday.