HENDERSON, Tenn. - Jake Todd's bases-clearing double capped a five-run third inning as the No. 19 Freed-Hardeman Lions opened conference play with a 7-5 win over Mid-Continent (Ky.) on Friday evening.

The Lions (29-5-1, 1-0) used the third inning to jump on top of the Cougars 6-1, and held off a late rally to earn their first conference win of the season.

Ryan Grigaitis's RBI single in the second tied the game at 1-1, and one inning later FHU took control.

Kyle Dearing led off the inning with a single, stole second and scored on Ryan Huber's single. Grigaitis later drew a bases-loaded walk before Todd's two-out, three-run double cleared the bases.

The Cougars fired back with three runs in the sixth and one in the seventh, but Lion starter Chris Hatfield (5-2) held them in check the rest of the way to secure the win.

Dearing, Huber and Todd all had two hits for the Lions in the win. Hatfield allowed 12 hits but walked none and struck out six in going the distance.

The series concludes with a double-header tomorrow at noon.