SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Brandon Guske set a new record as the Freed-Hardeman Lions opened the American Midwest Conference Tournament with a 7-1 win over Williams Baptist (Ark.) on Thursday afternoon.

Guske (12-3) went the distance, tossing a six-hitter while striking out five in setting a new Lion baseball single-season record for wins. His 12th win in 15 appearances moved him past Josh Hester, who won 11 games in 2008. Only four pitchers in program history have won 10 or more games in a season.

The eighth-seeded Eagles, making their first post-season appearance in 13 years, hung close to the AMC regular season champions for six innings. FHU got a run in the top of the first when Mark Salisbury stole home on a double-steal before WBC tied it in the third on a two-out double by Eric Kent.

Freed-Hardeman (34-12) took the lead for good in the top of the fifth after a pair of run-scoring hits from Nathan Van Nortwick and Pete Trollinger, both of which came with two outs.

It wasn't until the seventh inning when FHU finally built a cushion, scoring four times thanks to two-RBI hits from Trollinger and pinch-hitter Ethan Mayberry.

The runs were more than enough for Guske, who needed just 100 pitches to go the distance. He did run into trouble in the bottom of the ninth as Williams Baptist loaded the bases, but he coaxed a groundout to first to end the game.

Garrett Ferguson went 3-for-4 in the win while Trollinger and J.C. Daily each had two hits.

The Lions advance to face the winner of Missouri Baptist and Benedictine-Springfield (Ill.) on Friday at 5:00 PM.