February 17, 2023

by Dustin Semore, FHU Sports Information Director

HENDERSON, Tenn. — A hot start by the (RV) Freed-Hardeman University Lions was quashed in the late innings when the visiting University of Mobile (Ala.) plated runs in the final three frames to lay claim to a 9-3 victory in the first game of a four-game weekend series.

It was a fast start for the visiting Rams (10-0), who used powerful hitting and an outward wind to send the second pitch of the game over the right field fence to take a 1-0 lead. FHU's Luis Torres-Lopez bounced back with a punchout. A double from UM would be followed by a pair of groundouts to end the early threat.

It was two-out magic for the FHU Lions (7-4) after singles from Will McCall and Sean Rooney were sandwiched by a pair of outs. Trace Anderson would perfectly place a single into left-center to plate McCall, getting himself into scoring position on the throw. Christian Presley was two inches short of a three-run homer when his fly ball hit the right-field wall, but the sophomore gladly settled for a two-run double to give the Lions a 3-1 advantage.

After a sacrifice fly from the Rams cut into the FHU lead, Torres-Lopez settled down to send the Rams back to the dugout empty-handed for the next two frames. After a walk, single, and a fielder's choice, another sacrifice fly from UM tied things up in the top of the fifth inning 3-3. That tie would not last an at-bat when the ensuing Ram sent a three-run blast over the center-field fence to give Mobile a 5-2 advantage. While the Lions were scoreless for the final six innings, the Rams added a pair of runs in the sixth inning before back-to-back homers in the top of the seventh finalized the scoring on a 9-3 game.

Luis Torres-Lopez (2-1) took the loss in a solid five-inning outing in which the graduate student fanned five Rams while allowing one walk. Patrick Cantrell and Seth Creasy each tossed an inning in relief.

The Lions were led by Christian Presley's two-hit day at the dish, with his RBI double driving in a team-high two runs.