HENDERSON — Despite being tied 2-2 moving the bottom of the fifth inning, the No. 25 Freed-Hardeman University Lions out-scored the Viterbo (Wis.) University V-Hawks 8-2 over the last six innings to sweet their first series of the season with a 10-4 victory.
The Lions (4-0) fell behind early when the V-Hawks connected for a two-out RBI double in the top of the first inning.
Adam Smithson's speed helped FHU answer back in the bottom of the inning. Smithson led off FHU's offense with a roundabout double: a single followed by a stolen base. The thievery helped when
Cam Madding's groundout drove in the Lions' first run.
FHU jumped ahead of Viterbo (0-4) in the bottom of the second inning after
Trace Anderson laced a triple into right-center field, scoring on the next play when
Jordan Carter's groundout drove him home. The V-Hawks answered back in the top of the third to tie the game 2-2.
That should would hold until the bottom of the fifth inning when FHU led off the frame with a single from
Brady Spring. Smithson's second hit of the game drove in Spring's pinch runner -
Kimmey Johnson - before Smithson would wheel around second to stand on third after a pickoff attempt went into right field. Madding's infield single plated Smithson to give the Lions a 4-2 lead.
Viterbo nearly tied the game in the top of the sixth inning when a runner was attempting to score a second run on an RBI single, but was cut down at the plate to preserve a 4-3 lead.
FHU added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth thanks to an Anderson double before
Lane Lawson had a two-run pinch hit double to give the Lions a 7-3 lead after six complete innings.
Anderson's big day continued in the bottom of the seventh inning when the sophomore rocketed a three-run homer to end FHU's big offensive outing in a 10-4 win.
It was a platoon effort both offensively and defensively with the Lions utilizing 21 players including five pitchers.
Jackson Fitzwilson (1-0) picked up the victory in his first collegiate appearance in relief of
Matthew Riley.
Trace Anderson was a single short of the cycle, going 3-4 from the plate and driving in four runs.
Adam Smithson and
Brady Spring both connected for a pair of hits each, while
Lane Lawson and
Cam Madding adding two RBI each.
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Up Next
The Lions will travel to Sterlington, Louisiana, where they will compete in the Cajun Collision. The Lions will play in five games from February 8-10.
