MOBILE, Ala. — Opening their season on the Gulf Coast, the Freed-Hardeman University Lions opened their season with a split against the University of Mobile Rams. After the Rams won with a winning walk 9-8, the Lions bounced back with an 11-6 victory
 

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Game 1
Freed-Hardeman - 8
Mobile - 9

The FHU Lions (0-1) were off to a good start after Trace Anderson drew a nine-pitch leadoff walk before Cam Madding recorded FHU's first hit of the season with a single to right. Jordan Carter notched the first homer of the year with a three-run blast to take an early lead.

Mobile (1-0) took the wind out of the sails of the Lions with a monster third inning where they scored seven runs. The Men in Maroon chipped away with Carter's two-run double in the top of the fourth before a sacrifice fly had the Lions down by one with two outs. A wild pitch set up a new ballgame with an 8-8 score, but the Rams answered to score for the walkoff.

Jordan Carter was 2-4 with while driving in an astounding five runs in his season debut. 

Colton Bryant got the start, hurling 2 2/3 innings where he struck out two batters. The bullpen had a good start from Seth Creasy, Patrick Cantrell, and Evan Koob (0-1) with Koob being charged with the loss.


Scoring Summary
Top 1
Jordan Carter's three-run homer also drove home Cam Madding and Trace Anderson
FHU 3, Mobile 0

Top 2
Trace Anderson stole third and then advanced home on a throwing error.
FHU 4, Mobile 0

Bottom 2
Breyton Cornelius scored on Steele Sims' sacrifice fly.
FHU 4, Mobile 1

Bottom 3
Bryce Eddington singled home Cameron Brock. Reece Buck hit a bases-loaded triple to score Tyler Wabnitz, Eddington, and Cornelius. Sam Bowman's single drove home Buck before Zion Taylor's double plated Bowman and Patrick Bell.
FHU 4, Mobile 8

Top 4
Carter knocked a two-run double to score Madding and Dalton Bonner.
FHU 6, Mobile 8

Top 7
JJ Pruneau hit a sacrifice fly to score Fuller. Hunter Ryan then scored the tying run on a wild pitch.
FHU 8, Mobile 8

Bottom 7
Bell drew a bases-loaded walk to walk off with Alex McWhorter scoring.
FHU 8, Mobile 9
 

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Game 2
Freed-Hardeman - 11
Mobile - 6

Trace Anderson got the scoring going after her stole third and an errant throw putting the Lions (1-1) on the board in the first inning. The Rams answered quickly with a homer in the bottom of the first before taking a three-run lead in the third inning.

From there the Lions zeroed in on the Mobile (1-1) pitching, starting with a double from Dalton Bonner before Drake Blackwood crushed a two-run homer for his first collegiate hit.

The Lions forged ahead in the sixth inning, scoring five runs led by Austin Johnson's two-run single. Despite a ninth-inning home run from the hosts, the Lions held on to claim their first win of the season.

Trace Anderson was 2-4 in game two while drawing two walks. Drake Blackwood was 2-3 with his homer driving in two runs. 

It was a tale of two pitching staffs with Cooper Johnson (1-0) earning the victory in his Lion debut but hurling five full innings where he struck out nine Rams, only walking three. Tyler Wilson and Jaxson Lucas each saw time on the bump. From the other dugout, Mobile utilized seven different pitchers.


Scoring Summary
Top 1
Trace Anderson swiped third before advancing home on a throwing error by the catcher.
FHU 1, Mobile 0

Bottom 1
Sam Bowman hit a two-run homer to also score Peyton Bell.
FHU 1, Mobile 3

Top 4
Dalton Bonner smacked a double to score Dawson Massengale. Bonner would later score with Drake Blackwood's round-tripper.
FHU 4, Mobile 3

Top 5
Cade Fuller was able to score thanks to an error from the UM defense.
FHU 5, Mobile 3

Top 6
Brooks Jones singled home Michael Glick before Austin Johnson drove in Fuller and Jordan Carter with a single. Bonner picked up an RBI by driving home Ryan on a fielder's choice.
FHU 10, Mobile 3

Top 7
Ryan drew a bases-loaded walk to plate Anderson.
FHU 11, Mobile 3

Bottom 9
Alex McWhorter hit a three-run blast to score Zion Taylor and Bowman.
FHU 11, Mobile 6
 

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Up Next

The Lions wrap up their opening weekend with another double header against the Rams on February 2 with game one starting at 1:00 p.m. Read Full Article