March 28, 2023

by Dustin Semore, FHU Sports Information Director

WALESKA, Ga. — Despite trailing 4-1 a majority of the game, the Freed-Hardeman Lions battled back to tie Tuesday's game against the (RV) Reinhardt (Ga.) University Eagles. The celebration was short-lived as the hosting Eagles poured 10 runs in three innings to top FHU 14-4 in eight innings.

The game started well for the Lions (19-13, 8-7 MSC) with Christian Presley leading off affairs with a two-bagger to center. After advancing to third thanks to a groundout, Will McCall airmailed a sacrifice fly to center to plate Presley and give FHU a 1-0 advantage. 

The bottom half of the first started the same for Reinhardt (21-9, 11-3 AAC) with a leadoff double. Instead of ending the inning, an errant throw went into the outfield to score two unearned runs to give RU a 2-1 lead. The Eagles would add two more runs in the bottom of the second inning thanks to a sacrifice fly and an RBI single to hold a 4-1 edge.

The next three innings went by without incident until the top of the Lions' order struck in the sixth with Presley leading off with a single. An infield single by Zach Sanders allowed Presley to wrap around the horn and stand on third. McCall would then add another RBI to his day after his single scored Presley. Sanders and McCall would take advantage of a pair of Eagle errors, with the former scoring on an error by the RU shortstop, and the latter tying the game 4-4 on a dropped fly in left field.

The Eagles would then stun the Lions by tallying a one-out single in the sixth inning before a triple, a two-run homer, and a solo shot followed in consecutive order to turn the tie into an 8-4 advantage for the hosts.

Reinhardt would add four more runs in the seventh inning including a two-run shot before the Eagles' third two-run homer - this time in the eighth inning - gave the Eagles a walk-off run-rule win.

Despite a four-strikeout afternoon one of the two hits Seth Creasy (1-1) allowed in relief of starter Cam Jennings drove in the deciding run.

The Lions tallied nine hits in the game with Will McCall, Christian Presley, and Adam Smithson each collecting two base knocks.

Up Next

The Lions will keep an eye on the radar in hopes that their three-game series with No. 25 Cumberland (Tenn.) University this weekend will play as scheduled. As of publication on Tuesday, March 28, the Lions and the Phoenix are set to play one game on Friday, March 31 at 5:00 p.m. and a doubleheader Saturday, April 1, at 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Keep an eye on GoFHULions.com for any updates!