Matt Barker, Sports Information Director

HENDERSON, Tenn. - The Freed-Hardeman Lion baseball team exploded for 17 hits as three different players took it deep to give FHU a lopsided 16-4 victory over Williams Baptist Friday at Carnes Field.

Brandon Guske (8-2) continued his solid play on the mound as he picked up the win after working seven innings and allowing just seven hits while striking out six for his eighth victory of the season.

Garrett Ferguson led the Lions at the plate and couldn't get much better, as he went 3-for-4 on the night with a double, a triple and a home run to contribute four RBI's for the Lions in the win.

Zac Carter was also solid at the plate as he went 3-for-5 and added two doubles and two RBI's. Chase Young and Nate Van Nortwick also took a liking to the other side of the fence as Young went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run while Van Nortwick connected on his first home run of the season to help the Lions pull away in convincing fashion.

The bottom half of the first inning would be favorable to the Lions as three runs would cross the plate, which allowed FHU (29-10, 12-4 AMC) to take a comfortable lead early on in the game.

Chase Young would get the drive started for the Lions with a solo home run over the left field fence to give FHU some confidence in the box. Carter and Ferguson would use the momentum to their advantage as each would cross the plate for the Lions after Carter connected on a double to deep left field while Ferguson pounded out a triple to deep centerfield to put the Lions up 3-0.

The Lions would continue the pounding in the bottom half of the second inning as six more runs would cross the plate to give FHU a 9-0 advantage to keep the game out of reach for the Eagles. FHU combined for five hits in the inning to aid them in handing Williams Baptist the early deficit.

FHU continued to dominate at the plate to finish out the game as the they would push two more across in the fourth inning followed up by a one-run fifth inning and a four-run sixth inning to put the game away for good.

The Eagles (14-20, 7-8 AMC) would muster two runs in the top of the sixth and add two more in the top of the seventh, but the late rally would not be enough as the Lions took care of things in seven innings with a 16-4 victory.

With the win, the Lions improve to 29-10 on the season and 12-4 in conference play. Williams Baptist falls to 14-20 on the season and 7-8 in league play with the loss.

AROUND THE AMC: The Lions edged one game closer to Missouri Baptist University, as the Spartans saw their 19-game winning streak snapped at the hands of Lyon (Ark.) College, who defeated them 9-7 tonight. Missouri Baptist still sits atop the AMC standings with a 14-2 record in conference play, but the Lions remain in striking distance as the regular season draws near.

UP NEXT: The Lions continue their series with Williams Baptist College tomorrow with a double-header slated for 12:00 PM at Carnes Field.