HENDERSON — Despite an early 3-0 deficit, the Freed-Hardeman Lions baseball team battled back, but fell short by one run to the No. 9 University of the Cumberlands Patriots 5-4 in the Mid-South Conference opener.
After spotting the guests a 4-0 lead the Lions (17-12, 0-1 MSC) slowly began climbing back in with an RBI single from
Cam Madding before
Dawson Massengale made it a one-run game with a two-run blast.
Madding's double down the line in left could have plated the tying run, but thankfully for the Patriots (22-6, 4-0) the ball rolled into the FHU bullpen. That forced what was the tying run to retreat back to third after beginning at first. UC managed two outs to end the comeback bid for a 5-4 final.
Cam Madding had two of the five FHU hits with
Dawson Massengale joining Madding with two RBI each.
Matthew Riley (4-1) had a solid day on the bump, striking out seven Patriots.
Scoring Summary
Top 1
A three-run homer put the Patriots on top early.
FHU 0, UC 3
Top 5
Another big fly from UC extended the lead.
FHU 0, UC 4
Bottom 5
Cam Madding's single drove home
Hunter Ryan to put the Lions on the board.
FHU 1, UC 4
Bottom 6
Dawson Massengale continued his high run production of late with a two-run homer to also plate
Trace Anderson to draw within one.
FHU 3, UC 4
Top 7
An RBI automatic double gave the Patriots some insurance.
FHU 3, UC 5
Bottom 9
Madding's ground-rule double tapped the chalk down the left-field line to plate Ryan.
FHU 4, UC 5
Up Next
The Lions and the Patriots will return to action to finish the league series with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.
