HENDERSON, Tenn. - The Freed-Hardeman Lions debuted in American Midwest Conference play with a win, defeating Benedictine-Springfield (Ill.) 4-3 on Friday in the series opener.

The Lions (9-4, 1-0) scored twice in the second and fourth innings while Greg Young kept the Bulldogs at bay for seven innings, and Nolan Huber worked out of a two-on, no-out jam in the ninth as FHU held on for the win.

Huber entered the ninth with a 4-1 lead but ran into trouble after Grant Dewitt reached on an error and Blake Siebert took first base after Huber's wild pitch on the third strike got away from Quillian. Both came around to score as the result of an RBI groundout and a sacrifice fly bringing the tying run to the plate with two out, but Huber got Zane Dillon to pop out to third to close out the game for his second save of the season.

FHU got on the board in the second on a two-run double by Garrett Ferguson and added two more in the fourth on a two-run single down the first base line by Zach Quillian. The Bulldogs' Jordan Pesko shut the Lion bats down from that point on but the combination of Young, Joe Creasy and Huber made sure it didn't matter.

Young (5-1) worked seven strong innings, allowing three hits while walking four. Three of those free passes came in the second inning, but he worked out of the jam by getting Jordan Day to ground out back to the mound.

The Lions, meanwhile, had 10 hits but hit into two double-plays and drew no walks against Pesko, who threw 70 of his 105 pitches for strikes. Cole Veazey extended his hitting streak to nine games, going 2-for-4. Kyle Dearing also went 2-for-4 while Bobby Seda and Quillian both went 2-for-3.

Joe Creasy stranded two runners in the eighth as he set up for Huber, striking out two.

The series concludes on Saturday with a double-header at noon. Probable pitchers are Dan Creighton (1-1, 2.25 ERA) in game one and Chris Hatfield (1-1, 4.87 ERA) in game two.