MILLINGTON, Tenn. — In the final day of the Midwest Clash, the No. 25 Freed-Hardeman University Lions baseball team out-scored their opponents 28-5, had 26 hits, connected for seven home runs, and thew a combined no-hitter. They first defeated Saint Xavier (Ill.) University Cougars 13-5 before shutting out the Indiana University South Bend Titans.
Game 1
SXU - 5
FHU - 13
The Lions (9-1) started the day by opening things up with a three-run first inning.
Adam Smithson led things off with a walk, moving to third thanks to Cam Maddin's single before
William Kelley connected for a three-run home run to right field and give the Lions the 3-0 edge.
Cade Fuller would keep things moving for the Lions in the bottom of the second inning with a solo shot to put FHU on top 4-0.
In the top of the second inning Saint Xavier (3-2) narrowed the gap when the leadoff batter was struck by a pitch, later scoring on an RBI single. The Cougars joined the home run derby with a two-run home run to right field and set the score at 4-3.
Christian Presley would score in the bottom of the third inning to take the sting out of a double play, with
Jordan Carter later driving in
Cam Madding before
Brady Spring doubled home the Lions' seventh run of the game.
The Lions would later put up five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning starting with Presley's two-run single only to be chased by a two-run home run from Madding. Spring would drive home
Trace Anderson to give FHU a 12-4 edge after four complete innings.
Jordan Carter would score the final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning to finish the 13-5 victory.
Houston High (3-0) got the win for the Lions, striking out five Cougars in four innings of work.
Seth Creasy (1) was credited with a save after effectively pitching three full innings where he punched out four batters.
Cam Madding was 3-3 with two runs batted it, while
Jordan Carter tallied three hits.
Trace Anderson,
Christian Presley, and
Brady Spring each had two hits.
William Kelley's first-inning homer helped him drive in a team-high three runs.
Game 2
FHU - 15
IUSB - 0
In the second game of the day, the Lions (10-1) started things off with a rare triple steal that had
Adam Smithson coming home to score the first of six runs in the top of the first inning. After
Jordan Carter walked to reload the bases,
Brady Spring was hit by a pitch to drive in the Lions' second run.
Cade Fuller then cleared the bases with one swing, connecting for a grand slam to right field and give the Lions a 6-0 lead before Indiana South Bend picked up a bat.
Smithson kept the throttle open over the Titans (1-3) with a home run to lead of the top of the second inning before Carter's two-run homer in the third inning gave FHU a 9-0 edge.
Utilizing a nearly completely new lineup in the top of the fifth inning,
Cade Fuller tripled home a pair of pinch hitters with
Dean Bechman singling home the Lions' 13th run of the game. Carter would drive in the 14th run in the top of the sixth inning with
Gage Burt putting a bow on the weekend with a home run to right field to finish the 15-0 rout.
Four different Lion pitchers teamed up for the combined no-hitter with
Matthew Riley (1-0) earning the victory after striking out three in four complete innings. Each pitching one inning,
Cam Jennings would strike out one,
Hunter Bennett two, before
Evan Koob struck out all three batters he faced.
Cade Fuller drove in an astounding six runs with just two hits.
Jordan Carter was 1-2 and drove in three.
Adam Smithson was the other Lion with two hits, seeing seven other batters collect one hit.
Up Next
The red hot Lions return to Five Wells Field for a four-game weekend series with the University of Saint Francis (Ill.) Fighting Saints. Single games with be played on Friday, February 23, and Sunday, February 25, with a double-header slated for Saturday, February 24.
