Matt Barker, Sports Information Director
MCKENZIE, Tenn. - The Freed-Hardeman Lion baseball team battled the entire way Monday evening and came away with a 5-3 victory over in-state foe Bethel University on the road in McKenzie, Tenn.
Connor Creasy picked up the win for FHU (6-4), as he worked 3 and 2/3 innings and allowed just one hit while striking out two. Seth Selby got the start for the Lions and worked 3 and 1/3 innings and allowed just four hits while striking out four. Beau Caviness secured the save for FHU after working the final inning of the game and allowing just one hit and one earned run.
The Lions compiled nine hits in the game, as seven different players recorded a hit in the match-up. Aden Campbell led the Lions at the plate with a perfect 3-for-3 day while De'Mikyle Holmes went 1-for-2. Wes Brooks rounded out the Lions attack after going 1-for-3 with a homerun and two RBI in the win.
Brooks got the scoring drive started for the Lions in the top of the third inning, as he pounded out a solo shot over the center field fence to put the Lions up 1-0 early on. However, despite threatening with two more base runners in the inning, the Lions could not push any more across, as they kept a 1-0 advantage at the end of the third inning.
However, it would not take long for the Lions to strike again, as Joe Leatherwood and De'Mikyle Holmes got the top of the fourth inning started with back to back walks to open the inning. Holmes crossed the plate later in the inning following a Bryce Lester single to right field to put FHU up 2-0.
However, the Wildcats (2-3) would not let the Lions run away with the game, as they responded with a two-run inning in the bottom of the fourth inning to tighten things up a two apiece. Colby Poston and Braden Lott both crossed the plate for Bethel in the inning, as Poston scored following a wild throw by Joe Leatherwood while Lott crossed the plate following an RBI single to left field by Bradey Gill.
Despite giving up two runs in the top part of the fourth inning, the Lions offense was alive and well, as a three-run sixth inning proved to be the deciding factor in the game. Griffin Siebert and De'Mikyle Holmes got the inning started with back to back walks to give FHU some base runners. Pinch hitter Josh Sears took over from there and moved the runners around with a single to left field to score Siebert and put the Lions up 3-2.
The Lions would not be done in the top part of the sixth inning, as Bryce Lester loaded the bases for FHU after being hit by a pitch. From there, Holmes and pinch runner Collin Baber would cross the plate in the inning following a passed ball by the Wildcats and a sacrifice fly to deep right field by Wes Brooks to put FHU up 5-2.
Bethel looked to rally in the bottom part of the ninth inning, as Kendall Adkisson crossed the plate following a wild throw by Beau Caviness to pull Bethel within two runs at the 5-3 mark. However, two runs would be as close as they got, as the Lions came away with the 5-3 victory.
With the win, the Lions move to 6-4 on the season. Bethel University falls to 2-3 on the season with the loss.
UP NEXT: The Lions are back in action Tuesday, February 20th, as they host NCAA Divison 2 Lane College for a 5:00 PM match-up at Carnes Field.
