Matt Barker, Sports Information Director
UPLAND, Ind. - For the first time in school history, the Freed-Hardeman Lion Baseball team is headed to the Avista NAIA Baseball World Series following a sweep of the Upland bracket Thursday afternoon, capped off with a 5-0 shutout of Oklahoma Wesleyan in Upland, Ind.
"This year has been a magical journey for our team," said Jonathan Estes, head coach for the FHU Baseball team. "The way we have finished this season winning 28 of our last 30 games and sweeping the conference tournament and opening round has been really special. I am very happy for our players, our coaching staff and all our fans for supporting us throughout this season."
Jared Humphry (7-3) pitched lights out in the victory, as he allowed just four hits and no earned runs while striking out one in eight innings of work. The Henderson, Tenn, native had one of the best outings of his college career, as he kept the base path clean for much of the afternoon. Beau Caviness worked the final inning of relief for the Lions and allowed just one hit while striking out two batters in the victory.
"Jared stepped up big for us when we needed him most," said Estes. "Oklahoma Wesleyan has one of the best offenses we have faced all season and the way he was able to keep them off balance for much of the game was incredible. I am super proud of him and the way he has progressed throughout his four years at FHU."
While Humphry took care of things on the mound, the FHU offense took care of things at the plate, led by Bryce Lester, who went 3-for-5 on the day with a double. Wes Brooks also continued his dominance at the plate and pounded out a home run in the match-up while contributing two RBI. Aden Campbell and Griffin Siebert also recorded multi-hit games in the match-up, as each pounded out two hits and double in the win.
The Lions (43-14) got their scoring drive started early in the top of the third inning, as Joe Leatherwood opened the inning with a single to left field. Collin Baber, pinch runner for Leatherwood, advanced to third base on a single to right field by Bryce Lester and scored in the next at bat off a sacrifice fly by Brooks to put FHU up 1-0.
The fourth inning was much of the same for FHU, as they pushed one run across to go up 2-0 in the match-up. Siebert reached base first in the inning after being hit by a pitch and advanced to second base on a balk by Oklahoma Wesleyan pitcher Jared Gray to put FHU in scoring position. FHU second baseman Cody Duncan took care of things from there, as he connected on an RBI single to left field to give FHU their second run of the game.
The Lions added another run in the top of the fifth inning, courtesy of a solo homerun by Brooks to put FHU up 3-0 midway through the game. The homerun for Brooks marked his 16th homerun of the season.
Two more runs followed for FHU in the top of the sixth inning, as Kaimana Ancog and Siebert both crossed the plate to put FHU up 5-0. Ancog started the inning with a leadoff walk while Siebert put two runners on after being hit by a pitch. Ancog found his way around the base path later in the inning following an RBI single by Darcy Moore to give the Lions a 4-0 lead. Siebert also crossed the plate in the inning following a sacrifice fly by Leatherwood to put FHU up 5-0, which was all they needed to secure the victory.
With the victory, the Lions move to 43-14 on the season and advance to the Avista NAIA Baseball World Series, set to take place May 25-31 in Lewiston, Idaho. The Lions enter the World Series riding a seven-game winning streak after sweeping the American Midwest Conference Tournament and the NAIA Tournament Opening Round in Upland, Ind.
