February 4, 2023

by Dustin Semore, FHU Sports Information Director

HENDERSON, Tenn. — The visiting Lions of Bryan (Tenn.) College plated four runs in the sixth inning in game one of Saturday's doubleheader against the (RV) Freed-Hardeman University Lions. After seeing a three-run home run in that inning, the FHU Lions fell to even the series with a 6-4 final score.

A one-out walk in the top of the first inning had Freed-Hardeman (3-2) against the ropes early, especially after a two-out double scored the game's first run. Will McCall hoped to spark the offense with a one-out single in the home half of the ninth inning, but a pair of quick outs left the third baseman stranded. It was not until the bottom of the second inning that the FHU Lions tied the game after Caleb Molo reached thanks to a bad throw from the Bryan defense. With Molo off and running on a hit-and-run opportunity, Dawson Massengale's single to right field had Molo wrap around to score to knot the game 1-1 after two complete innings.

The next two innings went by without scores until Zach Sanders kept the bottom of the fifth inning alive with a two-out double. After a wild pitch from Bryan's (1-1) pitcher moved Sanders to third base, Will McCall's single to center field gave FHU their first lead at 2-1. That lead proved short-lived; however, when a three-run blast followed a walk and a single from the BC hitters, the scoreboard flipped to give Bryan a 4-2 lead. The visiting Lions tacked on another run after a single, followed by an RBI double to end the sixth inning with FHU trailing 5-2.

William Kelley posted a leadoff double to keep the momentum going for the maroon and white, later scoring on Molo's sacrifice fly to left field to cut into the Bryan lead. After the guests added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning, Freed-Hardeman saw production from the bottom half of the order. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Baron Ratliff sent a home run (1) over the left field fence before a flyout ended the game with FHU down 6-4.

Colton Huntt got the start for the FHU Lions, finishing a no-decision game after five innings, giving up one run on five hits and striking out five. Quin Bennett (0-1) was on the hook for the loss, while Brent Wisdom tossed three innings: giving up two hits and fanning four Bryan Lions.

Zach Sanders ended the game going 3-4 with a set of doubles, while Will McCall tallied two base hits including an RBI and a double.