HENDERSON — The Freed-Hardeman University Lions hosted both Midway (Ky.) University Eagles and the University of St. Francis (Ill.) Fighting Saints on Friday. FHU first claimed a 7-3 victory over Midway before closing the day with a 3-2 victory over USF.
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Game 1
Midway - 3
Freed-Hardeman - 7
It was a tale of two offensive strategies with Midway drawing four walks in the top of the first inning to take a 3-0 lead over the Lions. In their half of the inning FHU (7-4) came out swinging when
Trace Anderson drilled the first pitch for a leadoff double.
Cam Madding and
Jordan Carter then tallied back-to-back singles with the latter driving in Anderson. An RBI groundout and and error from the Eagles knotted the game at 3-3 in one inning of action.
The Lions cracked the Midway (1-6) pitching again in the bottom of the third inning for another three-spot after
JJ Pruneau tallied a two-out single. Another error allowed the go-ahead run to cross in the form of
Austin Johnson before
Hunter Ryan sent the first pitch he saw through the right side to plate two.
Brooks Jones would drive in the final run in the fifth inning in the 7-3 victory.
Hunter McLemore (1-1) earned the victory in relief, striking out five in six scoreless innings while allowing just one walk.
Dalton Bonner and
Hunter Ryan each connected for two base hits in the win.
Scoring Summary
Top 1
A double steal led to Grant Hotchkiss scoring the first run of the game before Barrett McGill's single scored Eli Glasscock. A bases-loaded walk from Britten Robinson gave the Eagles a 3-0 lead.
FHU 0, Midway 3
Bottom 1
FHU's bats got rolling after
Trace Anderson scored on a
Jordan Carter single before
JJ Pruneau drove home
Cam Madding. An errant throw by Midway allowed Carter to score the tying run.
FHU 3, Midway 3
Bottom 3
Another Eagle error was capitalized on when
Austin Johnson was able to advance to third and home on a wild throw.
Drake Blackwood then planted a single into right field to score both Bonner and
Dalton Bonner.
FHU 6, Midway 3
Bottom 5
Brooks Jones drove home Bonner for the final FHU run.
FHU 7, Midway 3
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Game 2
St. Francis - 2
Freed-Hardeman - 3
A low-scoring affair ended the day with a big fly proving the difference-maker in the Lions' (8-4) win.
Hunter Ryan kept his momentum strong by hitting a sacrifice fly to score
Cade Fuller in the bottom of the second inning.
After a sacrifice bunt brought home the tying run for St. Francis (0-3), it was up to the bat of
Cade Fuller in the fourth inning. Fuller shot the first pitch over the wall in right field to give the Lions a 3-1 lead with his fourth home run of the year.Â
Cooper Johnson (2-1) claimed the victory after five full innings where he struck out six batters.
Colton Bryant earned a hold by pitching three innings of scoreless baseball before
Zach Seward (1) shut the door with the save.
Scoring Summary
Bottom 2
Hunter Ryan sacrificed his at-bat with a fly ball to score
Cade Fuller.
FHU 1, USF 0
Top 4
A squeeze play at the plate saw Max Montgomery driving home the tying run in the form of Drew Dant.
FHU 1, USF 1
Bottom 4
The stalemate did not last long as Fuller connected for a home run (4) that also drove in
Jordan Carter.
FHU 3, USF 1
Top 5
Mitchell Thomas benefited from a balk while standing on third.
FHU 3, USF 2
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Up Next
The Lions hope to dodge the rain with a series finale against St. Francis on February 15 with a 12:00 p.m. first pitch.
