May 18, 2022

by Dustin Semore, Sports Information Director

OKLAHOMA CITY - Freed-Hardeman baseball saw their season come to a conclusion Wednesday morning when the top-seeded Oklahoma City University Stars bested the Lions 9-5 to send FHU home short of the Lewiston, Idaho goal.

After giving up two runs in the top of the first inning, Freed-Hardeman (39-17) answered back in style after Sean Rooney shot a double into left field before Will McCall's shot to left cleared the outfield wall to tie matters 2-2 after one complete inning.

From there, hosting Oklahoma City (49-5) would score four runs in the second, two in the fourth, and one in the seventh to hold a 9-2 advantage into the seventh-inning stretch. Zach Sanders led off the frame with a walk, moving to third base on Ryan Stark's single. Christian Presley's RBI single up the middle would score Sanders to cut into OCU's now 9-3 lead.

One more run for the Lions would cross in the bottom of the ninth inning after Kelley's single and stolen base moved him into scoring position, crossing home on Hunter Beecham's single to center. FHU could not muster any further offense, falling 9-4 to the Stars.

Wesley Culley (3-2) took the loss for FHU, while Alex Huey's 5 2/3 innings of work saw the southpaw strike out five batters.

FHU tallied eight hits in the effort, with Stark's two-hit day leading the charge.