Ratliff's blast helps Lions smash Bears

March 4, 2023

by Dustin Semore, FHU Sports Information Director

PIKEVILLE, Ky. - Reentering Mid-South Conference play after a disappointing series in the MSC opener, the (RV) Freed-Hardeman University Lions returned to business by tallying multiple runs in all seven innings, including a six-run first to collect their first league win with an 18-2 victory over the University of Pikeville (Ky.) Bears.

The FHU Lions (11-8, 1-3 MSC) wasted no time getting on the board often and early. After Christian Presley opened the day with a signle to right field, Zach Sanders followed with a base knock of his own. After Will McCall walked to load the bases, Sean Rooney laced a two-run single into left field to plate both Presley and Sanders. Mason Libla followed with a single to again make the bases full of Lions, giving way to Baron Ratliff. The freshman middled the first pitch he saw and sent it sailing over the left-center field fence, his fourth homer of the season, to put the Lions on top 6-0 thanks to the grand slam - all before the Bears recorded a single out.

On the hill for the Lions, Alex Huey found himself in early trouble, seeing Pikeville (6-9, 0-4 MSC) runners on second and third with nobody out. But the lefty cooly struck out the next two batters before retiring the side with a groundout.

It would be more damage from the top of the order for FHU in the second inning when Sanders' single saw him come around to touch home by way of Libla's sacrifice fly. With McCall on third base after a double and an advance, Ratliff drew a walk. Attempting the double-steal, Ratliff was thrown out at second base; however, McCalll touched home before the tag was applied to give FHU the 8-0 lead after two.

The Lions' damage in the third inning came when Layne Lawson who, in his first start of the season, was hit by a pitch and eventually scored on a wild pitch. After Trace Anderson found his way on base by way of a single, Presley's one-out double would score Anderson and give the Lions a 10-0 advantage.

FHU took advantage of a tough day on the mound for the Bear pitching staff, seeing a run brought in thanks to a bases-loaded walk which was immediately followed by a bases-loaded wild pitch.

Pikeville would find the scoreboard after a single and a walk were chased by a passed ball to allow the first run of the day to cross unearned.

Answering back in the top of the fifth inning, Sanders found himself aboard thanks to a base hit, eventually moving to third with McCall, also on base after a single at second. Rooney's sacrifice fly would score Sanders, while McCall came home during the next at-bat thanks to a wild pitch. After the Bears added one run in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Lions found themselves leading 14-2 after five completed innings.

Not finished with their offensive output, pinch hitters Jack Early and Brady Spring both tallied runs. Early earned a two-out walk, scoring on Spring's pinch-hit RBI double. Back-to-back balks from the mound allowed Spring to move to third and finally home to put FHU ahead 16-2. 

The final nail in the Bear coffin came in the top of the seventh inning when a pair of walks was followed by a two-run double from Dawson Massengale in a pinch-hitting role. With the scoring finally completed, the Lions proudly claimed the 18-2 victory.

Alex Huey (2-2) earned his season's second victory by tossing four complete innings - enough to qualify him for the victory in in the seven-run affair by striking out four. Mason Morgan earned his second save - despite the lopsided score - by fulfilling the necessary save qualification by pitching for three effective innings, allowing one run with three hits.

Zach Sanders was deadly at the top of the order,  tallying three hits. Christian Presley, Will McCall, and Baron Ratliff contributed with a pair of base knocks each.