Matt Barker, Sports Information Director

HENDERSON, Tenn. - The Freed-Hardeman Lion baseball team let an early lead slip away Thursday as Central Baptist handed them their first loss of the AMC Conference Tournament after pounding out 13 hits for a 10-7 victory.

Despite the loss, Zac Carter kept the Lions in the game with a 4-for-5 performance at the plate, including a homerun and two RBI's, to account for four of FHU's 10 hits in the game.

The Lions had all the momentum to start the game, as they jumped out to an early 4-1 lead after J.C. Daily crossed the plate for FHU in the first inning while a three-run four inning extended the lead further as the Mustangs mustered just one run in the second inning. The Lions would add one for good measure in the sixth inning to keep the momentum going and pull ahead 5-1.

However, Central Baptist would more than make up for their slow start later in the game, as they pushed four runs across in the sixth inning to even things up at five apiece. The Mustangs would add four more runs in the seventh inning to pull ahead 9-5 before adding one more run in the eighth inning.

The Lions would attempt a late rally in the ninth inning after trailing, but would come up just short as Central Baptist picked up the 10-7 victory.

With the loss, the Lions move to the losers bracket and will face Park University Friday at 11:00 AM. With the win, the Mustangs advance in the winner's bracket and will face Missouri Baptist University Friday at 5:00 PM.