The Freed-Hardeman University Lions earned an at-large bid to the 2024 NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round where they were sent to East Tennessee where they faced the No. 6 Warriors of Webber International (Fla.) University. The Lions left seven runners stranded in a 3-0 loss.
In both the top of the second and top of the third innings, the fourth-seeded Lions (30-19-1), the Lions saw their time at the plate cut short with double plays. Meanwhile in the bottom of the second, Webber International broke the ice with a solo home ru Top-seeded WIU (43-12) added a second run in the bottom of the fourth inning before the Lions had their best chance in the top of the sixth. After a set of errors to lead off the inning allowed Adam Smithson to sacrifice his at-bat to move the tying run into scoring position, the Warrior pitcher struck out the next two batters to end the threat.
A one-out homer in the bottom of the seventh gave WIU their third run of the game. Christian Presley led off the ninth with a single, but a flyout and the Warriors’ third double play ended the game 3-0.
Colton Huntt (7-6) punched out seven batters, increasing FHU’s single-season strikeout record to 114 in the loss.
