April 1, 2023

by Chris Goodrich, Baseball Intern

HENDERSON, Tenn. — After falling in game one of the series, the Freed-Hardeman Lions battled back to take game two over the No. 25 Cumberland (Tenn.) Phoenix by a score of 5-3. The Lions outhit the Phoenix 10-6 in the hit column.

The Phoenix started the ballgame at the top of the first inning with a two-run home run and got on the scoreboard quickly with a 2-0 start. However, the (20-14, 9-8 MSC) Lions did not fall. Christian Presley led off the ballgame with a single. Following the single, Zach Sanders followed in his footsteps with a single of his own to have runners on first and second. Next, Will McCall helped make the bases juiced by drawing a walk. Then, Sean Rooney helped get the Lions on the board with an RBI fielder's choice to make the score 2-1.

Fast forwarding to the top of the sixth inning, the Phoenix (22-7-1, 12-1 MSC) made the ballgame 3-1 with another homerun on the day; however, in the bottom of the seventh inning, Will McCall added another run to the board for the Lions, making it now a 3-2 ballgame.

The Lions added more to the run column in the bottom of the eighth inning. Presley got everything started with a lead-off single. Zach Sanders drew a quick four-pitch walk to have runners on first and second base. McCall helped move both runners over with a flyout, having runners at second and third. Sean Rooney brought home Presley with a sacrifice fly to even up the ballgame 3-3. Camden Madding drew a very impressive walk to have runners on the corners. With Baron Ratliff at the plate, Madding swiped second base to have runners at second and third base. Baron Ratliff had a big-time clutch two-RBI single to help the Lions lead in the ballgame.

Colton Huntt (5-3) was excellent today on the mound as he pitched the complete nine-inning ballgame, allowed six hits, and struck out ten batters.

Up Next

The Lions will be back in action tomorrow, Sunday, April 2, as they will continue their series against the Cumberland Phoenix. The game is set to start at 1:30 at Five Wells Field.