Box Score MCKENZIE, Tenn. - The Freed-Hardeman Lions dropped their third straight game, losing to Bethel (Tenn.) University, 17-9, in a non-conference contest.
The Wildcats got off to a hot start, scoring six runs in the bottom of the first and chasing Lion starter Casey Overturf (0-1) before he could record an out.
Bethel continued its offensive onslaught in the second with three runs, then scored five more in the fourth.
The Lions (19-9) broke through in the top of the third, pushing four across the plate. Pete Trollinger singled home Garrett Ferguson for the first run, and Robert Prieto later cleared the bases with a double. FHU, though, missed a chance to do more damage after loading the bases again with no outs but Turner Bush escaped with three straight strikeouts to end the inning.
FHU again scored four runs in the top of the fifth, highlighted by Storm Bates's two-run single, but could not continue to muster enough offense to catch Bethel.
The Wildcats added three more in the eighth to go ahead 17-8 before the Lions scored once on another Bates RBI single.
Bates, Trollinger, Prieto, Bobby Seda and Kyle Dearing all had a pair of hits for FHU, which was out-hit by Bethel, 20-13.
The Lions get back into conference play this weekend with a three-game series at Park (Mo.) University starting on Friday with a double-header at 1:00 PM.
