May 4, 2023

by Dustin Semore, FHU Sports Information Director

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — On the biggest stage yet of the season, Colton Huntt led the (RV) Freed-Hardeman University Lions to a 2-0 win over the Thomas More (Ky.) University Saints with a no-hitter.

Neither team saw a runner get on base until Mason Libla's leadoff double started the bottom of the third inning well for the Lions (35-17). A set of strikeouts and a flyout later left the runner at second base.

Two more 1-2-3 innings followed for both FHU and TMU (32-18) until a perfect game bid was broken up in the top of the sixth inning when the Saints picked up their first baserunner after the leadoff man was hit by a pitch. After a failed sacrifice bunt was followed by a successful one, Christian Presley turned on the jets to haul in the third out and save the shutout.

Presley turned the defensive momentum into offensive work by leading off the bottom of the sixth inning with a single up the middle. After a sac bunt moved Presley into scoring position, the sophomore was too anxious to score, mistiming his jump on Will McCall's grounder where he was tagged out at third. Moving to second when Presley was tagged out, McCall would score the first run of the day for FHU when Camden Madding shot an RBI single through the hole at short. Sean Rooney hoped to keep the momentum going with a single, but another rundown ended the inning with Zach Sanders being tagged out at third.

Needing insurance, the No. 3 seed Lions leaned on Libla who sent his second double of the game to the gap in right-center field. The Lions' small ball allowed Libla's courtesy runner, Caleb Molo, to move to third base before William Kelley smashed a hit to the warning track that nearly left the yard - but the right fielder settled for a sacrifice fly that scored Molo to put FHU on top 2-0. Though no runs were scored for the Lions in the bottom of the eighth, Will McCall made history by connecting for his 59th career double: finally cementing his name at the top of Freed-Hardeman's career leaderboard.

Back-to-back groundouts started the top of the ninth inning before an error extended the inning. A hit batsman not only had the no-hitter in jeopardy but brought the go-ahead run to the plate. Huntt would coax a pop-up into foul territory where Rooney squeezed the final out to start the celebration.

Colton Huntt (9-4) powered the Lions to victory, striking out seven Saints - the No. 4 seed - while walking none. In the complete game effort, the junior threw 108 pitches: 73 of which found the zone.

The Lions tallied eight hits in the victory, with Mason Libla and Camden Madding both tallying two. William Kelley joined Madding with an RBI.

Up Next

The Lions will look to keep the momentum strong as they battle the No. 2 seed Cumberland (Tenn.) University Phoenix tomorrow, May 5, at 3:00 p.m. in the quarterfinal game of the double-elimination tournament.