Wildcats Fall Short in Hard-Fought Series Opener at Freed-Hardeman

HENDERSON, Tenn. – In a back-and-forth Mid-South Conference battle at Five Wells Field, the Bethel Wildcats displayed plenty of grit but ultimately dropped the series opener 7-6 to No. 17 Freed-Hardeman on Friday afternoon.

The Wildcats (10-21, 4-6 MSC) jumped out to an early lead in the first inning when Juan Diego Ramos drove home CJ Lattimore, who had reached on a double.

 Bethel extended that lead to 2-0 in the third via an Adriel Vega RBI double, but the Lions roared back in the bottom half of the frame. A five-run outburst by FHU, highlighted by home runs from Brennen Gibson and Brooks Jones, shifted the momentum and put Bethel in a 5-2 hole.

True to their form, the Wildcats refused to go away. Bethel chipped away with two runs in the fifth and added another in the seventh to tie the game at 5-5.

 After the Lions reclaimed the lead, the Wildcats scratched across another run in the top of the ninth to keep the pressure on, but FHU's Joe Romines managed to navigate a bases-loaded tightrope to secure the save.

Key Performers: • CJ Lattimore: 2-for-3, 3 Runs, 2 BB, 2B • Adriel Vega: 1-for-2, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2B • Cade Pilkinton: 1-for-5, RBI, 2B • Walker Ward: Started on the mound, striking out two over 4.0 innings.

 Despite the loss, Head Coach Rusty Thompson saw plenty of positives in how his squad handled the pressure against a top-tier conference opponent. "I'm proud of the way our guys competed today," said Coach Thompson. "We went toe-to-toe with a very good ball club on their home turf. We had our chances late, and while it hurts to come up one run short, the effort and the energy were exactly what we look for. We just have to clean up a couple of small things and bring that same fight into tomorrow's doubleheader."

The Wildcats will look to bounce back and claim the series tomorrow, April 11, as they conclude the set with a doubleheader against the Lions. First pitch is scheduled for noon.

Stats:

https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=624697

Watch:

https://urbanedgenetwork.net/upcoming?school=mid-south-conference