Taylor Hodges, Sports Information Director

HENDERSON, Tenn. – The No. 7 Lions (38-14, 25-4 AMC) cruised to two victories on Senior Day, taking out Harris-Stowe (20-26, 13-15 AMC) 4-0 in game one, and mercy ruling the Hornets 12-1 in game two.

It took the Lions three innings to wake the bats up in game one, but they were able to bring in three run in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead.

Zach Sanders led the inning off with a single, followed by a one-out double from Isaac Howeth, putting the runners on second and third. James Dodd followed Howeth with a double, scoring both runners. Collin Baber came on as a courtesy runner for Dodd, and with two outs, De'Mikyle Holmes hit a single up the middle, allowing Baber to score the third and final run of the inning.

The Lions added their fourth and final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth after Dom Pisano hit a double, followed by a single from Howeth, moving Pisano to third. Howeth stole second base, and then Pisano was able to score when Dodd hit into a fielder's choice.

Holmes went 2-for-3 just before being honored on his senior day with the lone RBI, and Howeth also went 2-for-3. Dodd drove in the other three runs on a 1-for-3 outing. Josh Sears was intentionally walked in his first two plate appearance, but was able to get a single in his third, giving him a 1-for-1 outing.

In game two, it was all Freed-Hardeman, as they scored in every inning except the second.

They started off with two runs in the bottom of the first when Sears hit a two-run, one-out home run over the large wall in straightaway center field, his 16th of the year. The Hornets went back to intentionally walking him, all except for one more at-bat.

The bottom of the third inning was highlighted by a two-out, three-run triple by Howeth on a ball that hit the left-field wall in the air, nearly giving him a grand slam.

The Lions would go on to score two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings, followed by a three-run sixth inning, which helped lead to the game ending in the seventh inning due to the mercy rule.

Alex Huey and Austin Steel each pitched complete games, with Huey going the full seven innings in game one, and Steel in game two.

Huey only allowed three hits and struck out eight batters, followed by a two-hit, eight-strikeout game from Steel.

The Lions and the Hornets will play one nine-inning game on Saturday at noon, closing out the regular season ahead of the American Midwest Conference Tournament, which begins on May 1 in Joplin, Missouri.