2012 Baseball

HENDERSON, Tenn. - The hits were still there for the Freed-Hardeman Lions, but the runs weren't in an 8-2 loss to No. 16 Union (Ky.) College on Sunday afternoon at Carnes Field, one day after FHU run-ruled the Bulldogs in five innings.

FHU collected 10 hits, compared to eight for Union, but drew only one walk and stranded nine runners throughout the game.

The Lions (6-5) drew first blood in the bottom of the first inning on a solo homerun by Noslen Labrada (4).  Brian Bullard then followed with a single and Leamond Arthur drew a walk to put FHU on the verge of a big inning.  The threat was quickly extinguished, though, when Bullard was picked off and Derek Bush struck out to end the inning.

Union scored once in the third and fourth innings to go ahead 2-1, but Joe Mike delivered a two-out RBI single to even up the score.

The Bulldogs took the lead for good in the top of the fifth, taking advantage of a wild pitch and a balk to plate two runs.  The Lions had their chances in the next two innings but stranded two runners both times.

Neither team scored again until the ninth inning, when Union again was the beneficiary of Lion miscues on defense.  The result was four runs on only two hits to give Union a six-run advantage with FHU down to its final three outs.  

The Lions got two runners on base in their final at-bat, but left them both stranded to end the game.

Labrada, Bullard, Mike and Josh Reynolds each had a pair of hits for Freed-Hardeman.  Trae Luttrell (0-1) took the loss, allowing four runs in four innings of work.  He pitched to two batters in the fifth before giving way to Roman Kelly, who was solid in allowing just one hit in four innings.