FULTON, Mo. - The Freed-Hardeman Lions opened up their weekend series at William Woods (Mo.) University with a 7-6 win.

The Lions (13-5, 3-1) never trailed in the game, although a four-run fifth inning for the Owls tightened things considerably after FHU jumped to a 5-1 lead.

Freed-Hardeman retook the lead in the sixth when Kyle Dearing scored on an error, then added another run in the seventh on an RBI double by Garrett Ferguson.

That hit proved to be the difference, as WWU got a run back in the seventh but couldn't get the tying run across the plate in the final two innings against Lion reliever Joe Creasy. Creasy picked up his second save of the season, pitching 2-2/3 innings of hitless ball while striking out four.

The Lions scored two batters into the game when Lincoln Lakoff drove in Dearing with a single. After the Owls matched FHU in the bottom of the first, Freed-Hardeman went up 4-1 after three thanks to a two-run single by Cole Veazey and another run-scoring single by Storm Bates.

FHU tacked on another run in the fifth before the Owls got to Lion starter Dan Creighton for four runs in the bottom of the frame. Creighton (3-1) was relieved by Creasy in the seventh, finishing the day allowing six runs - two earned - on eight hits.

After Creasy stopped the Owls in the seventh, William Woods didn't threaten in the final two innings. Only one baserunner reached against Creasy, a batter hit by a pitch in the eighth

FHU out-hit William Woods, 12-8, and got 3-for-5 performances from both Dearing and Veazey. Lakoff added a pair of hits.

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