Lions unable to match Phoenix in slugfest

May 5, 2023

by Dustin Semore, FHU Sports Information Director

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Combining for 20 runs and 22 hits, the (RV) Freed-Hardeman University Lions and the No. 23 Cumberland (Tenn.) University Phoenix gave the fans in Bowling Green plenty to cheer for. The No. 2 seeded Phoenix would hit a slew of home runs late to hand the No. 3 seed Lions an 11-9 loss.

The FHU Lions (35-18) found themselves down early after a bases-loaded walk in the top of the first inning was followed by a two-run double. The Lions; however, showed their unwillingness to go down quietly after Christian Presley led off the bottom of the first with a single to center field, followed by an RBI double down the left-field line from Adam Smithson.

After a scoreless second by the Phoenix (35-11-1), FHU utilized a pair of walks to Sean Rooney and Mason Libla to forge ahead. A fielding error from the CU third baseman allowed Baron Ratliff to reach safely while watching Rooney cross home. Libla's courtesy runner, Caleb Molo, would follow by scoring on William Kelley's RBI groundout. Presley's second hit in as many trips was fruitful as the first-team All-MSC outfielder singled home Ratliff to give the Lions a 4-3 lead. Another first-team All-MSC hitter Will McCall followed by doubling to score Presley and hold a 5-3 advantage.

FHU tallied a sixth run in the bottom of the third after Camden Madding's leadoff single paid off with Ratliff's sacrifice fly.

A scoreless fourth inning was the last one the Lions retired the Phoenix with a "zero" on the scoreboard. A two-run single and a double steal in the top of the fifth frame knotted the game 6-6, followed by a passed ball in the sixth giving Cumberland their first lead since the second inning.

Lion patience in the bottom of the sixth inning flipped the scoreboard to put FHU on top again. Three consecutive walks to open the inning were followed by McCall taking a pitch on the arm to drive in the tying run being hit by a pitch. Zach Sanders drove in FHU's seventh run to reclaim the lead, now 8-7.

From there, the ball began flying off the Cumberland bats with three solo home runs in the eighth and ninth innings to finalize an 11-9 loss for FHU.

Getting the start, Alex Huey finished a no-decision after five innings where he struck out six and walked as many. Luis Torres-Lopez was hit with the loss in two innings of relief effort.

The top of FHU's order doled out the damage with Camden Madding, Christian Presley, and Adam Smithson each earning two base hits, while Will McCall drove in a team-high two runs.

Up Next

Freed-Hardeman will now move into the elimination bracket where they await the No. 5 seed Tigers of Georgetown (Ky.) College at 3:30 p.m. A victory would see them rechalk and take on the loser of the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) and the Phoenix at 7:00 p.m. A loss would send them back to Henderson in hopes of an at-large bid to the NAIA World Series.