HENDERSON, Tenn. - Ben Neyen held the Freed-Hardeman Lions scoreless for seven innings and the Lyon (Ark.) College Scots jumped on Dan Creighton early in taking the opening game of a three-game weekend series from FHU, 7-1.

Neyen (6-4) went the distance for the Scots, scattering eight hits and striking out a season-high nine batters.

After Lyon scored twice in the first, FHU had an opportunity to answer after getting two runners on base but Neyen was able to get out of the inning.

For the next six innings, the Lions were unable to truly threaten again.

The Scots, meanwhile, took a 4-0 lead after six innings, getting two in the first and adding runs in the fourth and sixth. They had chances to score more times, but FHU worked out of a few jams including a bases-loaded situation in the second and a two-on, no-out situation in the fifth.

The Lions finally broke through in the eighth, ending Neyen's shutout bid on a sacrifice fly by Garrett Ferguson to score Kyle Dearing.

But Lyon responded with three runs in the ninth, and Neyen struck out the side in the Lions' half of the inning to end the game.

Dearing and Cole Veazey each had two hits, with Dearing's run putting him one away from tying the program's career record. Creighton (5-3) took the loss, going four innings and allowing three runs on seven hits and four walks.

The loss now has FHU and Lyon tied for second place in the conference standings at 13-6 with William Woods (Mo.) and Benedictine-Springfield (Ill.) a half-game behind.

The Lions (26-13, 13-6) will counter in Saturday's double-header with Greg Young (9-1, 3.60) and Chris Hatfield (3-3, 5.81).