2012 Baseball

HENDERSON, Tenn. - Leamond Arthur's walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Freed-Hardeman Lions a 6-5 win over Lambuth (Tenn.) University on Tuesday evening at Carnes Field.

Arthur ripped a two-out line drive to right field with the bases loaded to bring home the winning run.  After the first two hitters of the inning struck out, Derek Bush and Josh Reynolds hit back-to-back singles and Robert Prieto was intentionally walked to bring Arthur to the plate and set the stage for his clutch hit.

The hit came after the Lions stranded two runners in the seventh and left the bases loaded in the eighth.  A two-run, two-out home run by Lambuth's Mitch McClay tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the seventh.

The Lions (29-15) had their bats going early in the game, scoring five times in the first four innings.  But Eagle relievers Ryan Adams, Matt Fike and Erin Keel combined to hold Freed-Hardeman in check from the fifth inning until Arthur's game-winning hit.

Five different pitchers worked in the game for FHU.  Hunter Newby (5-2) picked up the win after working a scoreless ninth inning.  The Lion pitching staff combined for nine strikeouts while walking two.

Freed-Hardeman pounded out 19 hits on the day but left 15 runners on base.  Prieto led the way with a 4-for-5 performance at the plate, while Arthur and Brian Bullard both had three hits.  Bush, Joe Mike and Zack Smith each added two hits.