Rooney's four hits lead Lions to home opening win

February 3, 2023

by Dustin Semore, FHU Sports Information Director

HENDERSON, Tenn. — Despite the cold temperatures in West Tennessee, the bats were hot as the (RV) Freed-Hardeman University Lions and the Bryan (Tenn.) College Lions combined for 27 hits and 15 runs. An early start from the FHU Lions a 9-6 victory at Five Wells Field.

The Freed-Hardeman (3-1) bats were ignited from the start, with Zach Sanders leading off the home half of the first inning with a double to right. Will McCall followed with a two-bagger of his own to score the opening run. McCall would touch home two batters later when William Kelley pounded out the third double of the inning for FHU.

While it was the extra-base hit that pushed the FHU Lions in the first inning, it was a five-single second inning that pushed four runs across. After Caleb Molo's speed forced a bad throw by the Bryan (0-1) defense, Sanders' second hit of the day drove the left-fielder home. A single from McCall would see Trace Anderson — courtesy running for Mason Libla who reached with a single — touch home plate. Sean Rooney would join the hitting clinic, placing a fastball into left field to score Sanders, before Camden Madding laced a single into left field to plate McCall, putting a bow on a four-run, five-hit second inning.

Dawson Massengale and Molo started the bottom of the third inning with singles, setting up Adam Smithson to sacrifice his at-bat to bring Massengale home from third. Sanders and McCall found themselves on base for the third time, with the former drawing a walk and the latter being hit by a pitch. Sean Rooney would hit a single up the middle of the diamond to score Molo before the Bryan defense's bobble allowed Sanders to grab an extra 90 feet and score the Lions' ninth and final run of the day.

Bryan used the long ball to make matters interesting in the late innings. A solo shot in the fifth inning put the visiting Lions on the board before back-to-back jacks in the eighth inning narrowed the gap. After an RBI single cut FHU's lead to four runs, Nolan Wells entered with the bases loaded and coaxed a groundout to end the threat.

A two-out home run from Bryan in the top of the ninth settled the score at 9-6 in favor of the maroon and white.

Luis Torres-Lopez (2-0) battled the cold to earn his season's second victory, striking out three in five innings of work. With Nolan Wells (1) entering the game with the tying run on deck, his 1 1/3 inning of work snatched his first collegiate save.

Eight Lion batsmen tallied hits in the contest, with Sean Rooney matching his career-high hit total with four base knocks, driving in two. The top of the order was nearly unstoppable, with Zach Sanders going 3-4 with a double, Will McCall collecting a pair of hits with as many RBI, and William Kelley grabbing two doubles.

Up Next

The Lions and Lions will match up again at Five Wells Field on Saturday, February 4. The twin billing of nine-inning games is set to begin at 12:00 p.m. with game two to follow.