NEW ORLEANS — The Freed-Hardeman Lions claimed a series opening victory over the No. 21 Loyola (La.) University Wolfpack 12-5. Loyola answered with a 19-5 victory in the second game of the day.
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Game 1
Freed-Hardeman - 12
Loyola - 5
The Lions (5-1) went back-to-back in the top of the first inning when
Jordan Carter's long ball was followed by one from
Drake Blackwood to take an early 3-0 lead. The extra-base hits kept rolling when
Trace Anderson's double in the fourth inning pushed FHU's lead to 6-1.
After Loyola (3-2) plated a set of runs in the fourth inning, The Lions nearly hit for a team natural cycle in the top of the fifth when
Dalton Bonner's single was followed by a double from
JJ Pruneau. A strikeout broke up the rally, but
Brooks Jones smacked a triple before Anderson capped the big inning with a big fly to secure the 12-5 victory.
The Lions were locked in at the plate with five batters:
Trace Anderson,
Cade Fuller,
Brooks Jones,
Cam Madding, and
JJ Pruneau each tallying two base hits.
Matthew Riley (2-0) earned the victory with three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings before
Jaxson Lucas tossed the last 2 1/3 with three strikeouts.
Scoring Summary
Top 1
Jordan Carter's second homer of the season also scored
Cam Madding.
Drake Blackwood followed with a big fly to tally back-to-back jacks.
FHU 2, Loyola 0
Bottom 2
Drew Lee's single scored Landon Manson.
FHU 2, Loyola 1
Top 4
The big inning for the Lions started when
Cade Fuller scored on an error before
Dawson Massengale's sacrifice fly plated
Austin Johnson.
Trace Anderson followed with a double to score
Brooks Jones before scoring himself thanks to
Cam Madding's two-bagger.
FHU 7, Loyola 1
Bottom 4
Manson scored the second Wolfpack run with Jake Mills' single. Jaxon Buratt scored on a fielder's choice batted by Garrett Felix.
FHU 7, Loyola 3
Top 5
An inning full of extra-base hits started when
JJ Pruneau's double scored Fuller before Jones hit FHU's first triple of the season scored both Johnson and
Dalton Bonner. Anderson's second long ball of the season then also drove home Jones.
FHU 12, Loyola 3
Bottom 5
Brandon Mooney scored on Buratt's sac fly before a bases-loaded walk by Mills plated Cole Romero.
FHU 12, Loyola 5
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Game 2
Freed-Hardeman - 5
Loyola - 19
FHU's (5-2) fortune ran out in the second game of the day where a big third inning was not enough. In the third,
Jordan Carter's double scored a set of runners to help FHU to a 4-3 lead.
Loyola (4-2) exercised extreme patience in the game, drawing 11 walks including seven walks in the bottom of the fifth inning where they scored nine runs to vault to a 19-5 win.
The Lions had eight hits in the game with
Cam Madding's two hits leading the way.
Cooper Johnson (1-1) was charged with the loss despite striking out three in 2 2/3 innings.
Scoring Summary
Bottom 1
J. Buratt scored on a passed ball before C. Romero hit a homer.
FHU 0, Loyola 2
Top 2
Cannon Daversa drove home
Cade Fuller.
FHU 1, Loyola 2
Bottom 2
A sacrifice fly from Jake Mills scored Marcus Steen.
FHU 1, Loyola 3
Top 3
Cam Madding legged out an infield single to drive in
Gage Burt before a two-run double from
Jordan Carter plated Madding and
Trace Anderson. A sac bunt by
Drake Blackwood later scored Carter.
FHU 5, Loyola 3
Bottom 3
A wild pitch allowed Brandon Mooney to score before Steen's two-run double plated Garrett Felix and Collin Zeringue.
FHU 5, Loyola 6
Bottom 4
Jaxon Buratt's two-run homer also scored Mooney followed by an RBI single from Felix to score Zeringue. Steen's double ended the inning's scoring with a double to plate Felix.
FHU 5, Loyola 10
Bottom 5
The Wolfpack's patience paid off with four bases-loaded walks to go with a passed ball, a one-run single, and a pair of two-run singles.
FHU 5, Loyola 19
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Up Next
The Lions and Wolfpack will line up again for a doubleheader on February 8 beginning at 1:00 p.m.
