Hot bats, Kelley lead FHU to series victory

January 27, 2023

by Dustin Semore, FHU Sports Information Director

NEW ORLEANS — The (RV) Freed-Hardeman University Lions baseball program kept the momentum rolling into the second game of the day's twin bill. Freed-Hardeman poured on five runs in the eighth inning before a three-run ninth put the bow on a 9-0 shutout to earn a series win.

The Freed-Hardeman (2-0) bats came alive late in the second game of the day, pounding out 14 base hits and scoring eight runs in the last two innings of a 9-0 victory over Loyola.

With Colton Huntt (1-0) on the hill for the Lions, a leadoff single from WolfPack was followed by three straight swinging strikeouts. Huntt kept the strikeouts rolling, fanning the first two batters of the bottom of the second inning.

Adam Smithson led off the top of the third inning before stealing second base. Mason Libla's single was followed by Zach Sanders being hit by a pitch to load up the bases with no outs. All three runners were on the move after a passed ball, but the Loyola catcher recovered in time to throw out Smithson at the plate to keep the Lions off of the board. Driving in his fourth run of the day, Will McCall grounded out to drive in Sanders to give FHU a 1-0 lead after three complete innings.

FHU would tally five hits across the next four innings but were unable to capitalize, leading the teams into the eighth inning with the Lions leading 1-0.

After a flyout was followed by back-to-back walks to McCall and Sean Rooney. Baron Ratliff came on to pinch run for McCall; however, the extra speed proved unnecessary. William Kelley scorched his third hit of the day over the fence in left-center field for a three-run blast, giving the Lions a 4-0 lead. The eighth inning kept rolling for the Lions with Smithson's single driving in both Christian Presley, who reached via a walk, and Dawson Massengale - on base after a fielder's choice - to cap off a five-run eighth inning and giving the Lions a 6-0 advantage.

The day was far from done for the men in maroon and white, with McCall taking advantage of a fielding error by the WolfPack, scoring on Rooney's RBI double. Rooney would wrap around and score thanks to Camden Madding's grounder to second base before Presley's two-out single plated Kelley to finish the Lions' offensive exploits in a 9-0 victory.

Huntt finished his victorious outing after five innings, striking out six batters. Montana Dickerson tossed three innings of solid relief, giving up a pair of hits before Colton Bryan pitched the ninth inning of the combined shutout.

William Kelley ended the second game going 3-5 and driving in three runs. Sean Rooney saw the ball well to the tune of a 3-4 outing at the plate and driving in one run. Mason Libla and Adam Smithson both tallied a pair of base knocks in the victory.

Up Next

The Lions will spend the night in New Orleans before hitting the field for a single nine-inning contest tomorrow, January 28 with the first pitch scheduled for 12:00 p.m.