Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 HENDERSON, Tenn. - Hunter Newby tossed a two-hit shutout in his Freed-Hardeman debut to help the Lions split their opening day double-header with MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) on a cold afternoon at Carnes Field.

The Lions dropped the opener, 6-3, before Newby went the distance in game two as FHU won 4-0.

Newby, who transferred to Freed-Hardeman after playing at King (Tenn.) College last season, got an early cushion in the first inning after Derek Bush and Noslen Labrada hit back-to-back doubles. Brian Bullard followed with a single to advance Labrada to third, after which a perfectly-executed double steal brought home Labrada. Justin Mackey later scored Bullard with a two-out single.

The three runs were more than enough for Newby (1-0), who struck out six and walked one while giving up only a pair of infield hits. The 6-foot-8 sophomore worked a no-hitter into the fifth inning before MANU's Keith Staton broke it up with a one-out single.

Newby put an exclamation point on his gem in the seventh inning, striking out the side to end the game.

In the first game, it was Staton who caused most of the damage with three RBI, including a two-run homerun in the fifth that put the Pioneers ahead 5-2.

The Lions drew first blood in the bottom of the first on back-to-back doubles by Labrada and Bullard before MANU took advantage of two walks by Lion starter Carlos Pertuz and a fisted single by Staton that found its way just over the reach of Bullard at first base and into right field in their half of the second.

FHU tied the game in the bottom of the third on Leamond Arthur's RBI double but the Pioneers retook the lead in their next at-bat on a two-out RBI double from Cody Fuqua off of Gage Franklin (0-1), who relieved an injured Pertuz in the third inning.

The Lions got another run in the bottom of the fifth on Zack Smith's bases-loaded walk, but could not close the gap any further.

The four-game series concludes tomorrow with a double-header beginning at noon.