Freed-Hardeman Defeats Georgetown 7-6 in 14 Innings to Advance to MSC Baseball Championship Game

Baseball | Sun, May 9, 2021

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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Von Watson’s walk-off single in the 14th inning pushed second-seeded Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) past No. 3 seed Georgetown (Ky.) in the MSC Baseball Tournament consolation final at Bowling Green Ball Park.

With the victory, the Lions (26-22) advance to Sunday’s MSC Baseball Championship against top-seeded Cumberlands at 12:30 p.m. CT. Josh Sears led the way for Freed-Hardeman with four hits while Will McCall had three. Watson had two hits and drove in three runs in the victory.

Freed-Hardeman jumped out to a 3-0 lead after three innings. Georgetown (35-18) responded scoring four runs over the next three innings to lead 4-3

In the bottom half of the eighth, Riley Perks hit a solo home run to tie the game 4-4. Neither team was able to generate any runs in the ninth as the game headed to extra innings.

Following two outs to begin the top of the 10th, Shota Usuda put Georgetown back in front 5-4 with a solo home run. Back-to-back hits to begin the  bottom half of the inning allowed the Lions to tie the game at 5-5. Beau Simpson led off the inning with a double then Watson drove in the tying run. Brandon Krennrich prevented any further damage by striking out the next three Freed-Hardeman batters sending the game to the 11th inning.

After a groundout to begin the 11th, Eric Thrower hit a solo home run giving the Tigers a 6-5 lead. Georgetown would then get the next batter on base before a flyout and a caught stealing prevented the Tigers from tacking on additional runs.

Just like the 10th inning, the Lions would respond to extend the game. Dylan Lott led off the inning with a walk. He then was able to advance to second on balk. Following a pair of outs,  Sears then drove in Lott on an infield single to tie the game 6-6. Freed-Hardeman then had the game-winning run in scoring position after a stolen base. Krennrich then struck out the next Lion batter.

The two teams combined for just one hit in the 12th and 13th innings. McCall drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the 14th. Sears doubled down the left field line which advanced McCall to third. After an intentional walk to load the bases, Watson on a 2-2 count hit the walk-off single into right center field.

Three Tigers had multiple hits in the game while Usuda recorded two RBIs. Krennrich suffered the loss pitching four innings allowing three runs on five hits while striking out 10.