January 27, 2023

by Dustin Semore, FHU Sports Information Director

NEW ORLEANS — The (RV) Freed-Hardeman University Lions baseball program began the Jess Trask era of Lion baseball on Friday in Louisiana. The Lions plated four runs in the final inning of game one to open the season with a 5-3 win over the No. 23 Loyola (La.) University WolfPack. In the second game of the day's twin bill, Freed-Hardeman poured on five runs in the eighth inning before a three-run ninth put the bow on a 9-0 shutout. 

Both the FHU Lions (1-0) and the hosting WolfPack plated runs in the first frame. Will McCall (1) scored the Lions' first run of the 2023 campaign with a solo blast. Loyola would strike back in the bottom of the first inning after a leadoff double was followed by a flyout and a game-tying groundout to knot the affair 1-1 after the first inning.

Moving ahead to the third inning, FHU had a fast start with Mason Libla's two-bagger, but the WolfPack (0-1) starter Stephen Still settled down to coax a lineout before fanning two Lion batters to end the threat.

Loyola opened the bottom of the third inning with a single down the left-field line; however, a strong throw from Christian Presley back to the infield saw a tag placed to erase the leadoff man. The Lions never escaped danger after a walk allowed a two-out single to wrap around and give the home team a 2-1 lead after three complete.

The Lions and WolfPack traded scoreless innings, with FHU's defense stamping out a leadoff double in the sixth inning to keep the Lion deficit at one run moving to the final scheduled inning.

Presley opened the top of the seventh with a leadoff double to right field. After Dawson Massengale sacrificed his at-bat to advance Presley 90 feet, Libla's single drove in the tying run. With Caleb Molo running for his catcher, Zach Sanders drew a walk to set up McCall for another big trip to the plate. The third baseman sent a single into right-center to score both Sanders and Molo to give the Lions a 4-1 advantage. Not finished with his big game, McCall swiped second base to move into scoring position, allowing Sean Rooney's single to score the Lions' fourth run to take a 5-2 advantage.

The WolfPack would score a run in the bottom of the seventh but could muster no more to give Freed-Hardeman the 5-3 victory in the season premiere.

Quin Bennett (1-0) earned the victory in relief of starter Luis Torres-Lopez. Torres-Lopez tossed five innings, striking out two while Bennett fanned as many in his two innings.

Will McCall went 2-3 from the plate, driving in three runs. Mason Libla and Christian Presley both connected to a set of hits.