Baseball Travels to Freed-Hardeman for Regular-Season Finale
COLUMBIA, Ky. – The Lindsey Wilson baseball team will conclude the regular season with a trip to Henderson, Tenn. to face off against the Freed-Hardeman Lions this weekend. These two squads will face off on Friday at 5 p.m. CT, followed by a doubleheader on Saturday at 12 p.m. CT.
The Blue Raiders (17-22, 9-14 MSC) are coming off a home series with No. 22 Cumberland this past weekend. After dropping a doubleheader on Saturday, Lindsey Wilson defeated Cumberland 13-7 on Sunday. The Phoenix jumped out to a 7-2 lead early, but the Blue Raiders scored eleven unanswered runs to claim the victory in the final home game of the year.
Thorne Gray hit a three-run home run to tie the game and Austin Rayno hit a three-run home run to put the Blue Raiders up by four. Trent Floden also added a homer in the game. Glenn Simes earned the win on the mound, allowing two hits, one walk, no runs, and recording six strikeouts in 3.1 innings of work.
Chance Stayton led the Blue Raiders in hits (6) and RBIs (5) in the series. Gray and Henry Paulino both hit multiple home runs on the weekend.
Cohen Achen racked up eight strikeouts on Saturday, and now becomes just the sixth pitcher in program history to record 100 strikeouts in a season. Achen ranks first in the Mid-South in strikeouts and second in the NAIA.
Freed-Hardeman (28-17, 14-10 MSC) earned a 2-1 series victory over Bethel last weekend. The Lions followed that up with a high-scoring 14-13 win at Blue Mountain Christian on Tuesday. Camden Madding went 4-for-5 with two RBIs and Will McCall went 3-for-4 with four RBIs.
On the season, McCall ranks in the top five in the MSC in batting average (.393) and RBIs (59). Alex Huey has the most innings pitched on the Lion pitching staff and is tied for third in strikeouts in the MSC. Nolan Wells is a solid closer for Freed-Hardeman, ranking second in the conference in saves with five.
Last year, the Lions took two-of-three from the Blue Raiders in Egnew Park. Achen earned the lone win on the mound in the series.
First pitch at Five Wells Field is set for 5 p.m. CT on Friday.
