HENDERSON — The home opener at Five Wells Field proved a joyful day with the Freed-Hardeman Lions picking up a big 12-2 victory over the visiting Rust (Miss.) College Bearcats.
The Lions (4-1) started off threatening by plating runners on second and third with one out, but Rust was able to retire the side unscathed.
Dawson Massengale's first base knock of the season was a big fly that bounced off the top of the wall in left field for a round-tripper to give FHU a 1-0 lead.
FHU's big inning was the bottom of the third where they collected six hits against the Rust (0-5) starter to score eight runners.
JJ Pruneau drove in a set of runners with a double to left-center before
Trace Anderson drove home the final run of the frame to put FHU on top of the Bearcats 9-0.
Cade Fuller's sacrifice fly gave the Lions an even 10-run lead after four complete innings. Another two runs of insurance crossed in the sixth inning to help FHU to the 12-2 victory.
In his first career start,
Jackson Fitzwilson (1-0) got the win after five full innings of scoreless effort where he struck out six Bearcats without a walk.
Joshua Bybee and
Joe Romines each hurled one inning of relief with both striking out one.
Dawson Massengale was 2-2 from the dish with a home run and a single to drive in two.
JJ Pruneau's double drove in a set of runs. Five more Lions recorded base hits in the victory.
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Scoring Summary
Bottom 2
Dawson Massengale hit a solo home run over the fence in left.
FHU 1, Rust 0
Bottom 3
Trace Anderson tapped home to start a big inning after a wild pitch.
Cam Madding was able to score thanks to a sacrifice bunt from
Drake Blackwood.
JJ Pruneau then had a big hit where his double plated both
Jordan Carter and
Cade Fuller. A bunt single from Massengale drove in
Austin Johnson before
Dalton Bonner drove in both
Hunter Ryan and Massengale with a single to left. After batting around, Anderson put the finishing touch on an eight-run inning with a double to left to score Bonner.
FHU 9, Rust 0
Bottom 4
Fuller lifted a sacrifice fly to left to score Carter.
FHU 10, Rust 0
Bottom 6
An errant throw on a pickoff attempt allowed
Cam Madding to score before a sacrifice fly from
Dean Bechman to the warning track in right field plated
Ben Turner's unearned run.
FHU 12, Rust 0
Top 7
A double steal saw Kyrent Cole score the first Bearcat run while an errant throw allowed JaShaun Franks to advance to third. A single from Jalik Demar allowed Franks to score the unearned run.
FHU 12, Rust 2
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Up Next
FHU has a tough test ahead with a visit to New Orleans where they face the No. 21 Loyola (La.) University Wolfpack for a four-game series of doubleheaders on February 7 and 8.
