Matt Barker, Sports Information Director

UPLAND, Ind. - The Freed-Hardeman Lion Baseball team used hot hitting Monday afternoon to pick up a 13-8 victory over in-state foe Cumberland University in the NAIA National Tournament Opening round at Winterholter Field in Upland, Ind.

Austin Steel (10-2) picked up the win for the Lions, as he worked eight solid innings and allowed just eight hits and four earned runs while striking out eight batters. Collin McPherson and Connor Creasy combined for an inning of relief in the win.

Josh Sears led the Lions (41-14) at the plate, as he pounded out two home runs and plated three runs in the win. With the multi-home run game, Sears now holds the FHU single season record for home runs, as he currently sits at 19 home runs on the season. The previous record of 17 home runs was set by Casey Stokes (1997) and Pernell Knox (1998).

Kaimana Ancog and Wes Brooks also got in on the yard work, as each pounded out a home run of their own in the match-up. A trio of players recorded doubles in the game including De'Mikyle Holmes (3 RBI), Griffin Siebert (1 RBI) and Darcy Moore to keep the momentum going for FHU.

Despite trailing 4-1 through the top half of the fifth inning, the Lions found their stride in the bottom of the fifth inning, where they pushed four runs across to take a 5-4 lead midway through the game.

From there, the Lions never looked back, as they pushed six runs across in the sixth inning and two more in the eighth inning to come away with a convincing 13-8 victory.

With the win, the Lions move to 41-14 on the season and advance to play No. 1 seed Oklahoma Wesleyan on Tuesday, May 15th at 2:30 PM C.S.T. For more information regarding the NAIA National Tournament Upland Bracket, visit the Upland Bracket Tournament page by clicking here