May 9, 2022

by Dustin Semore, Sports Information Director

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – For the second consecutive year, the (20) Freed-Hardeman University Lions were bested in the Mid-South Conference Baseball Championship by the (RV) University of the Cumberlands Patriots. The Lions saw their opponents plate two runs in four different innings, including a gutwrenching top of the ninth to close the tournament with an 8-3 final score.

Freed-Hardeman (37-15, 19-5 MSC) tallied seven hits in the loss, scoring their first run in the bottom of the fourth inning. After spotting the Patriots a pair of runs in both the second and the fourth innings, Ryan Stark led off the inning with a double into left field. William Kelley answered with a two-bagger of his own to score Stark to cut into the UC lead 4-1.

The Lions had plenty of opportunities throughout the game, leaving runners stranded in scoring position in five different innings.

Cumberlands (43-14, 18-6 MSC) added two unearned runs in the top of the sixth inning. Hunter Beecham reached in the home half of the seventh frame thanks to a Patriot error and Kent Rooklin would give the Lions life with his fifth home run of the season, driving in Beecham and cutting into the lead 6-3.

FHU got into business in the bottom of the eighth inning, drawing back-to-back walks. After a groundout moved both Lion runners into scoring position, the Patriot closer to shut the door with the lead intact at three.

Any hope for an FHU comeback was dashed in the ninth after UC led off the inning with a double before a two-run blast cemented the final score at 8-3 in favor of the Patriots.

Luis Torrez-Lopez (2-2) earned his season's first start, pitching 5 2/3 innings while striking out two. 

"Super proud of the guys' effort the whole tournament," FHU head Coach Jonathan Estes said. "They battled and battled. Today things just didn't seem to go our way but they never gave up."

The Lions were led offensively by Kelley and Stark who collected two hits each.

Up Next

Freed-Hardeman will await their assignment for the 2022 NAIA Baseball Championship Opening round. The selection show will be held Thursday, May 12, at 4:00 p.m.