Matt Barker, Sports Information Director
MCKENZIE, Tenn. - The Freed-Hardeman Lion baseball team picked up a split with Bethel University Saturday afternoon, as they picked up a 2-1 victory in the opening game followed by a 3-2 loss in the nightcap.
With the victory in the opening game, the Lions extended their winning streak to 10 games before seeing the impressive streak come to an end in the nightcap.
A pair of homeruns by Josh Sears and Collin McPherson was all it took for the Lions to take the opening game of the day, as they notched a 2-1 victory in the low scoring affair.
The homerun for Sears came in the top of the first inning on the first pitch of his at-bat, as he pounded the ball over the right field fence to give FHU (25-13) some early separation. The homerun for Sears marked his ninth of the season.
FHU starting pitcher Jared Humphry (5-3) kept the Wildcats (16-16) in check a majority of the game, as he worked a complete game and allowed just three hits and one earned run while striking out six batters for his fifth victory of the season.
The Lions pounded out seven hits in the game, two of which came from Sears, who went 2-for-3 on the day with an RBI. Five other FHU players recorded hits in the match-up, including Griffin Siebert, who went 1-for-3 on the day with a double in the win.
Bethel mustered just one run on three hits in the opening game of the series, which came in the bottom of the third inning following an RBI double by Lucas Riddick to score Colby Poston to even the game up at one apiece. However, Humphry was able to get out of the inning without any further damage, as he retired the next batter in the inning to keep the game knotted up at one apiece.
Despite the game being tight the entire way, the Lions would come through when they needed it most, as Collin McPherson connected on a homerun over the left field fence in the top of the seventh inning to give FHU a 2-1 lead late in the game, which was all they needed to secure the win.
However, despite grinding out a victory in the opening game, the Lions could not carry the momentum into the nightcap, as they fell 3-2 to the Widcats to even the series at one game apiece.
Landon Sewell suffered the loss in the nightcap, as he worked 6 and 1/3 innings and allowed six hits and three earned runs while striking out six batters. Brady Jones secured the win for the Wildcats after working 5 and 2/3 innings and giving up three hits and one earned run while striking out 11.
The Wildcats got on the board first in the bottom of the fourth inning, as they pushed two runs across to take a 2-0 lead midway through the game. However, despite Bethel taking an early lead, the Lions rallied late in the game, as Griffin Siebert crossed the plate in the sixth inning while Darcy Moore rounded the bases in the seventh inning to even things up at two apiece.
However, despite the late rally, the Wildcats would not be denied, as Colby Carey crossed the plate for Bethel in the bottom half of the seventh inning to give the Wildcats the 3-2 victory in the Saturday split.
With the split, the Lions move to 25-13 on the season. Bethel University falls to 16-16 on the season with the split.
UP NEXT: The Lions are back in action Monday, April 9th, as they host Lindsey Wilson College for a single nine-inning game slated for 4:00 PM at Carnes Field.
