Taylor Hodges, Sports Information Director

MCKENZIE, Tenn. – The Lions baseball team (14-3, 6-0 AMC) fell short on Tuesday evening to Bethel University (8-8), losing 5-4 in a single nine-inning contest.

The Lions jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning after Bryce Lester hit a leadoff double. He was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Isaac Howeth, and he scored on the ensuing at-bat by Josh Sears, who brought him in with a sacrifice fly.

The Wildcats would take the lead, though, in the bottom half of the inning with two runs of their own. The Lions added two more in the top of the third thanks to an error that scored Brady Harris. The second run came in when Lester scored thanks to another error, and the Lions led 3-2.

After two and a half scoreless inning, Bethel jumped back in front after scoring three runs to go ahead 5-3. The Lions would add one run in the top of the seventh when Lester scored his third run after being brought in by Will McCall. Their comeback would end there, though, as the Wildcats were able to hang on to the slim margin and get the win.

Connor Creasy earned the start on the mound and had five strikeouts in five and one-third innings pitched. Jack Christian came on in relief to also have five putouts in two and two-thirds innings.

The Lions will be back in action this weekend when they travel to Hannibal-LaGrange in AMC play. They will play a double-header on Friday beginning at 12 noon with a solo game on Saturday, also at noon.