Matt Barker, Sports Information Director

HENDERSON, Tenn. - The Freed-Hardeman Lady Lion softball team entered the NAIA rankings this week at No. 20 and Saturday they proved it was deserving as they shutout Hannibal-LaGrange with a 4-0 win in the opening game followed by a 6-0 blowout in the nightcap.

Game 1- FHU- 4, HLGU- 0

The Lady Lions (16-8, 8-2 AMC) pounded out 10 hits in the opening game and relied on solid piching from Makenzie Prince to pull away early on. Caitlyn Carter led FHU at the plate as she went 2-for-3 in the opening game and contributed both RBI's for the Lady Lions in the win. Kristen Hunsicker also went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double while Katie Sholl was a perfect 2-for-2.

Prince (8-4) picked up the win after working all seven innings and allowing just three hits while striking out three. For the year, Prince has compiled 80 strikeouts in 11 starts while maintaining an impressive 1.84 ERA.

The Lady Lions would get things started early with two runs in the bottom of the first inning as Caitlyn Carter and Jenna Graham would both cross the plate after Jordan Burton reached base on a wild throw by Hannibal LaGrange third baseman Kristen Lee.

FHU would add another run in the bottom of the second inning, as Kristen Hunsicker would score off a sacrifice fly by Caitlyn Carter to put the Lady Lions up 3-0 early on.

Malorie Prince would give the Lady Lions an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth inning after scoring off a single to center field by Caitlyn Carter. The single by Carter marked her second RBI of the game and it couldn't have come at a better time as it put the Lady Lions up 4-0 midway through the game.

Prince would shut down Hannibal-LaGrange (14-18, 2-8 AMC) to finish out the game, allowing just three hits to give the Lady Lions the 4-0 shutout in the opener.

Game 2- FHU- 6, HLGU- 0

The Lady Lions kept the momentum going in the second game as they used a solid fourth inning to break the game open and keep things out of reach for the Trojans. FHU pounded out 10 more hits in the nightcap to match the impressive hitting in the series opener.

Jenna Graham led the Lady Lions at the plate as she contributed a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning to score four of the six runs in the game. Jordan Burton was also solid at the plate as she went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI while Kristen Hunsicker and Katie Sholl also went 2-for-3 at the plate.

Mallory Spurlock (8-3) picked up the win after working all seven innings and allowing just three hits while striking out eight for her eighth victory of the year.

The Lady Lions would get things started in the bottom of the third inning as Makenzie Prince would score off a double to deep center field by Jordan Burton. FHU would add another run in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Savannah Decker would score off a single by Makenzie Prince to put the Lady Lions up 2-0 midway through the game.

Jenna Graham would put the game away for the Lady Lions in the bottom half of the sixth inning as she pounded out a grand slam over the left field fence to score four runs and put FHU up 6-0, which would be all they needed to pick up the second shutout win on the day. The home run by Graham marked the first home run of the season for the Lady Lions.

With the win, the Lady Lions move to 16-8 on the season and 8-2 in conference play.

UP NEXT: The Lady Lions will be back in action Tuesday, March 29 as they travel to Central Baptist (Ark.) College for a double-header beginning at 2:00 PM in Conway, Ark.