Mon, Mar 22, 2010 - [Baseball]
HENDERSON, Tenn. - Freed-Hardeman got solid starts on the mound from Charlie Overturf and Hunter Newby as the Lions swept a double-header from Mount Mercy (Iowa) College, 4-2 and 9-1, on Saturday afternoon at Carnes Field.
Overturf (3-0) threw six strong innings in the opener before allowing a walk and a two-run homerun to begin the seventh inning. Gage Franklin entered in relief and retired three of the next four batters to pick up the save. Newby (3-2) followed by going the distance in the second game, allowing one run on seven hits in seven innings of work.
Mount Mercy out-hit FHU in the first game, seven to three, but the Lions made the most of their limited opportunities starting with a solo homerun by Brian Bullard (7) in the first inning. The blast was the 30th of Bullard's career, tying him with Pernell Knox for third all-time in program history.
FHU (15-8) added two runs in the fourth without getting a hit. Noslen Labrada and Bullard were both hit by pitches to start the inning, then advanced a base on a balk. Leamond Arthur walked to load the bases and two batters later, Evan Mansell's grounder to short scored Labrada. Bullard then came in after an error by MMC pitcher Derek Weber.
The Lions extended their lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single by Labrada.
In game two, FHU used a five-run third inning to take a 6-1 lead which was plenty for Newby, who tossed his third complete game of the year.
Each team scored a run in the second inning before the Lions' big third that saw consecutive run-scoring hits from Mansell, Derek Bush and Garrett Ammons. Josh Reynolds added a two-run homerun (2) in the fifth to add to Freed-Hardeman's cushion.
The Lions pounded out 13 hits in the second game and ran wild on the base paths, taking seven stolen bases without being caught once. Mansell had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with three runs scored and two steals. Ammons also had three hits in the game.
