Matt Barker, Sports Information Director
HENDERSON, Tenn. - Freshman Josh Sears combined for two homeruns Monday afternoon, one of which was a grand slam, as the Freed-Hardeman Lion baseball team picked up a 7-3 victory over Lindsey Wilson College in an out of conference match-up at Carnes Field.
Wes Brooks and Collin McPherson also got in on the homerun party, as Brooks pounded out a solo shot in the fourth inning to even the score at two apiece while McPherson gave FHU (26-13) their first lead of the game with a solo homerun in the seventh inning.
Sears exploded at the plate in the outing, as he went 2-for-4 and accounted for five of FHU's seven runs in the match-up. With the multiple homerun game, the Huntsville, Ala. native now sits at 11 homeruns on the season just behind Brooks who has compiled 12 homeruns on the year.
With the Lions offense taking care of business at the plate, FHU starting pitcher Jacob Sawyers (4-1) took care of things on the mound, as he worked seven solid innings and allowed just six hits and two earned runs while striking out eight batters. Beau Caviness secured his ninth save of the season after working the final two innings and allowing just two hits and one earned run while striking out two.
Dalton Hall suffered the loss for Lindsey Wilson College (18-19), despite tossing a solid seven innings and allowing seven hits and three earned runs while striking out five batters.
The Blue Raiders did not waste any time getting their offense going, as they pushed two runs across in the top of the first inning, as Oliver Baez connected on an RBI single to shallow center field to score Alec Salcedo and Ben Heideman to give LWC an early 2-0 edge.
However, despite giving up two runs in the first inning, starter Jacob Sawyers found his rhythm on the mound throughout the next six innings, as he allowed just four hits the remainder of the way.
Josh Sears pulled the Lions within one run of the Blue Raiders in the bottom of the first inning, as he connected on his first homerun of the day, this time in the form of a solo shot over the left field fence to close the gap at the 2-1 mark.
FHU completed its comeback in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Wes Brooks connected on a solo shot over the right field fence to even things up at two apiece midway through the game.
From there, Collin McPherson and Josh Sears took care of the rest, as McPherson pounded out a solo homerun in the seventh inning to give FHU a 3-2 lead while Sears blasted a grand slam in the eighth inning to increase FHU's lead to five runs at the 7-2 mark.
Lindsey Wilson would get one run back in the top of the ninth inning following a solo homerun by Blue Raider second baseman Nick Sanders, but it would not be enough, as the Lions held on for a 7-3 victory.
With the win, the Lions move to 26-13 on the season. Lindsey Wilson College falls to 18-19 on the season with the loss.
UP NEXT: The Lions are back in action Tuesday, April 10th, as they make the trip to Lindsey Wilson College for a 4:00 PM match-up in Columbia, Ky.
