MILLINGTON, Tenn. — Competing at USA Stadium in the inaugural Midwest Clash, the No. 25 Freed-Hardeman University Lions grabbed a pair of victories, first topping Rochester (Mich.) University 14-1 before walking off the University of Northwestern Ohio 4-3.
Game 1
FHU - 14
RU - 1
The first at-bat of the game proved to be a sign of things to come when
Adam Smithson led off the Freed-Hardeman (7-1) weekend with a blast to left field. That was followed by a double from
Christian Presley, with Presley eventually scoring on a sacrifice fly from
Trace Anderson to give FHU a 2-1 edge after their half of the first inning.
With an RBI double putting Rochester (2-1) on the board in the bottom of the first inning, Smithson made the Rochester pitcher remember him well, by blasting his second long ball of the game, this time to plate two and give the Lions. 4-1 edge.
The top of the fourth inning was the big one for the Lions, helped along by Rochester miscues. With the first batter reaching after a dropped third strike, the Lions would then have three consecutive batters hit by a pitch, with J.J. Pruneau's beamball granting him an RBI. A failed pickoff move allowed
Cade Fuller to score before
Adam Smithson's bunt not only had the shortstop beat the throw for a single, but forced a late errant throw to then see two Lions touch the plat and take an 8-0 lead. A more conventional scoring play came from the bat of Presley who launched the third home run of the day for FHU before
Cam Madding's round-tripper put FHU on top 11-1.
Presley would later score in the top of the fifth thanks to a wild pitch before smacking a two-run double in the top of the sixth to put a bow on the 14-1 victory.
Colton Bryant (2-1) got the win, striking out five while allowing two hits and one run.
Joe Romines struck out the side in his single inning of work before
Riley Keesey finished the final two innings where he fanned four.
The top of the Lion order was deadly with
Adam Smithson and
Christian Presley both collecting three hits, scoring two runs, and Presley drove home four while Smithson had three RBI.
Game 2
UNOH - 3
FHU - 4
The Lions nicely spread their four runs out evenly in the odd innings, with the run in the bottom of the seventh inning walking off the UNOH Racers.
Adam Smithson led off game two for the Lions (8-1) with a walk before stealing second base.
Christian Presley would leg out an infield single and his speed forced a bad throw that allowed Smithson to score an unearned run to take a 1-0 lead.
FHU would strike again in the bottom of the third inning with J.J. Pruneau being hit by a pitch. His courtesy runner,
Austin Johnson, would promptly swipe second before scoring on
Cam Madding's RBI single to right field.
Northwestern Ohio (3-5) tied the game with a two-run homer in the top of the fourth inning, only to have the tie broken by Presley's sacrifice fly scoring Johnson in the bottom of the fifth inning to give the Lions a 3-2 edge.
After UNOH tied the game in the top of the sixth inning, the Lions hoped to walk off game two in the bottom of the seventh. Those hopes seemed quickly dashed after a pair of quick outs, but Smithson was hit by a pitch. By stealing second, Smithson stood in scoring position where Presley's single drove Smithson home to win the second game of the day.
Colton Huntt (3-0) went the distance on the bump, giving up three runs with as many hits, but striking out six Racers in the win.
Christian Presley was 2-3 in the game to drive in two runs.
Brady Spring also had a two-hit game.
