FHU Lion Power on Display in Set of Tuesday Wins
Baseball | Wed, May 18, 2022 at 8:15 AM
Story Courtesy of Freed-Hardeman Sports Information
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – #2 Freed-Hardeman University blasted five home runs over the course of two games, first besting #4 LSU Alexandria 6-4 before collecting 18 hits in a 17-9 rout of #5 Kansas Wesleyan to advance to the final day of the Oklahoma City regional of the 2022 NAIA Baseball World Series Opening Round.
Game One
Freed-Hardeman – 6
LSU Alexandria – 4
In the leadoff spot for Freed-Hardeman (38-16) Kent Rooklin opened the day for the Diamond Lions with a blast to left field to give his squad a massive boost to start a day in which FHU would need to work its way through the consolation bracket.
Continuing his torrid pace, Rooklin connected for a one-out double in the top of the third; however, his time on the basepaths would be short-lived in the best of senses. Sean Rooney sent the LSU Alexandria (33-16) offering over the wall in left to put FHU on top 3-0. FHU’s inning was far from over with Christian Presley drawing a bases-loaded walk before William Kelley planted a two-run double down the left-field line to shoot the Lions to a 6-0 advantage.
The Generals would get on the board with a two-spot in the third inning followed by a two-run seventh, but the Lion lead was too much to overcome with the men in maroon ending the game on top 6-4.
Tyler Duskin (8-3) picked up the victory, tossing 6 2/3 innings in which he struck out eight Generals compared to allowing two walks. Connor Creasynabbed his fifth save of the season, shutting down LSUA in 2 1/2 innings of hitless baseball.
The top of the FHU order led the Lions, with both Rooklin and Rooney collecting three hits each. In the three-hole, Will McCall added a pair of hits.
Game Two
Freed-Hardeman – 17
Kansas Wesleyan – 9
In Henderson, the FHU softball team’s bracket has been dominated by pitching duels. That was far from the case for the Lions (39-16) and the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes (35-29) who combined for 18 runs off of 30 hits in the nightcap which ran just shy of four hours.
Kent Rooklin led things off for Freed-Hardeman with a double before swiping third. Rooney continued the one-two punch with a single into left field to plate Rooklin. Wanting in on hit parade, Will McCall shot a home run over the left field wall to put FHU on top 3-0 before Zach Sanders’ single chased the Coyote starter after just 1/3 inning. Christian Presley kept the FHU momentum alive with a double to the left side, scoring on William Kelley’s single to the opposite field.
The Rooklin and Rooney show continued in the top of the second inning with the former drawing a one-out walk, scoring on the Rooney’s two-run bomb to left to put the Lions on top 6-0 after two complete innings.
Showing no signs of slowing, the Lions would add four more runs in the top of the third inning with Kelley shooting an RBI single up the middle before Mason Libla drew a walk. To put confetti on an already impressive day at the plate, Rooklin hit a three-run blast to right field to vault FHU to a 10-0 advantage after three innings.
The Lions would score runs in four consecutive at-bats in the top of the sixth inning when Presley’s bases-loaded walk was followed by Kelley’s RBI single. Hunter Beecham spoiled a double-play chance by beating out the relay and allowing Ryan Stark to tap home. A double steal from Beecham and Presley had the latter scoring, with Beecham coming around to score on a Rooklin RBI double.
FHU’s offensive clinic shut down after a two-run single from Sanders plated both Adam Smithson and J.P. Key to put the Lions on top for good 17-9.
Evan Koob got the nod for the start in the second game of the day, striking out four while walking as many in 2 2/3 innings. Luis Torres-Lopez (3-2) earned the victory in a 6 1/3 inning relief effort that saw the junior strike out six.
Rooklin’s three hits were all for extra bases with two doubles and a home run, with the shortstop driving in four runs. Kelley, Rooney, and Sanders joined Rooney with a three-hit game, while Presley and Stark were joined by Will McCall with two hits.
Up Next
The Lions will need to go through the top-seeded and hosting Oklahoma City Stars at 11:00 a.m. for the right to take on Mid-America Nazarene at 2:30 p.m. and attempt to for an if-necessary game slated for Thursday, May 19, at 12:00 p.m.
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