2010 Baseball

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - As far as debuts go, this one was hard to top.

Senior Willy Hernandez made his first game in a Freed-Hardeman uniform one to remember after his three homerun, four RBI performance powered the Lions over NCAA Division II Christian Brothers (Tenn.) University, 12-4, on Wednesday afternoon.

FHU jumped out to an early lead thanks to a three-run second inning highlighted by Zack Smith's RBI single.  Hernandez then led off the top of the third with his first homerun to put the Lions ahead, 4-0.

While the Freed-Hardeman offense was rolling, so was the Lion pitching.  Newcomers Carlos Pertuz and Jhonny Montoya combined to allow no hits and strike out eight batters in the game's first three innings.

The Buccaneers got two runs back in the bottom of the fifth, but FHU answered with three more in the top of the sixth on an RBI double by George Otero and a two-run single by Greg Allen.  FHU again plated three runs in the next inning with Hernandez and Leo Alvarez hitting back-to-back solo shots.

Hernandez also hit a two-run shot in the top of the eighth.

The Lions pounded out 13 hits for the game, eight of which went for extra bases.  Hernandez and Brian Bullard each went 3-for-4 while Michael Clayton debuted with a pair of doubles in three at-bats.

Seven different pitchers made appearances for Freed-Hardeman with Montoya (1-0) picking up the win.