PULASKI, Tenn. - Second place in the TranSouth Conference will now come down to one game.

The Freed-Hardeman Lions split a double-header with Martin Methodist (Tenn.) College on Thursday afternoon in the final conference series of the season, leaving both teams at 7-4 in conference play heading into the decisive game on Friday afternoon. MMC won the first game, 4-3 in 10 innings, before FHU recovered with a four-run seventh and a 9-5 win in the nightcap to even the series.

In the first game, Nick Flanagan's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th gave the RedHawks the win after the game was knotted at 3-3 from the sixth inning on. The Lions tied the game in the sixth on Lincoln Lakoff's two-out single that scored pinch runner Tyler Anderson from second base.

Unfortunately for FHU, Lakoff would be its last baserunner of the game as Clay Brown retired the next 12 batters he faced.

It gave MMC enough time to get to Lion reliever Joe Creasy, who entered in the sixth in relief of Chris Hatfield. Creasy (1-2) was very effective with his only run allowed coming in the 10th inning.

Two walks (one intentional) on both sides of a single loaded the bases with one out, and Flanagan's fly ball to right field was enough to bring in Zach Bailey from third.

The Lions (38-10-1) bounced back in the nightcap, using a four-run seventh inning to secure the win and the split. With the game tied at 5-5, FHU was able to take advantage of several defensive miscues by the RedHawks including two errors and a dropped third strike that allowed Ryan Grigaitis to reach base. Lakoff and Ryan Huber each had RBI singles in the inning, with a throwing error by MMC shortstop Charles Hill leading to the other two runs.

The rally came after Martin Methodist tied the game with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Ryan Fares retired the side in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the win for FHU.

MMC led 3-1 after four innings but the Lions scored three times in the fifth, two runs of which came on Garrett Ferguson's two-out single, to take their first lead of the game. FHU also added a run in the sixth on an infield single by Justin Mackey, who extended his hitting streak to 22 games with hits in both ends of the double-header.

Eric Tompkins (4-0) got the win in the second game, getting the final out of the sixth inning and stranding two runners. Dan Creighton went five innings, allowing six hits and four runs in the no-decision.

Lakoff had three hits and drove in all three of FHU's runs in the first game.

The series concludes tomorrow with a single game at 4:00 PM. LHP Ryan Wood (5-2, 2.14 ERA) will likely be on the hill for the Lions.