The Freed-Hardeman University Lions (6-2) defeated the Wildcats of Culver-Stockton College (0-1) Friday evening by a score of 8-5.  The Lions offense and pitching helped propel the Lions to victory.

Senior Alex Huey started on the mound for the Lions.  The Wildcats were able to take an early 3-0 lead after Huey surrendered a 3-run homerun.  That was all they could get as Huey was able to limit the damage.  The Lions went down quietly after only recording one hit.

Huey gave up a solo shot in the top of the second but quickly got the three outs he needed.  The Lions were able to scratch a run across after a pair of doubles from Zach Sanders and Hunter Beecham.  The score after the second was 4-1.

Huey pitched his first scoreless inning after going 3 up 3 down.  The Lions went down 1-2-3 in the third.

Huey began settling in and posted another 1-2-3 inning.  The Lions offense came to life in the bottom of the fourth and took the lead.  The Lions scored 4 runs after RBI hits from Sanders, Kent Rooklin, and Mason Libla.  The new score was 5-4.

Huey worked quickly and efficiently to hold the Wildcats to no hits in the fifth.  The Lions scratched another run across on a perfectly executed first-and-third double steal.  The new lead was 6-4.

Huey was able to limit the Wildcats to just one run in the sixth.  The score was then 6-5.  The Lions answered back with another run from a sacrifice fly from Libla.

Huey exited the game after pitching 6 innings, allowing 5 runs on 3 hits, 3 walks, and 7 strikeouts.  Luis Torrez-Lopez entered in relief.  Torrez posted a 1-2-3 inning to hold the Wildcats to no runs.  The Lions threatened to bust the game wide open in the seventh but could not get a run in with bases loaded.

Torrez again went 3 up 3 down thanks to his defense turning a great 6-4-3 double play.  The Lions added another insurance run in the bottom of the eighth.

Torrez exited after pitching 2 innings, allowing 0 runs on 2 hits, 0 walks, 1 hbp, and 1 strikeout.  Connor Creasy entered to close for the Lions.  Creasy made quick work of the Wildcats and struck out two of the three batters he faced to pick up the save.  Huey earned the win.

The Lions will return to action tomorrow at Five Wells Field for games 2 and 3 of the weekend.

Article Written By:

Eli Walker

Student of Sport Administration

FHU

eli.walker@students.fhu.edu