KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — All nine starters for the Freed-Hardeman Lions recorded at least one hit in the Lions' 12-8 victory over the No. 19 Johnson (Tenn.) University Royals.
The Lions (18-14) pounded out 17 hits in the victory with the first coming in the form of
JJ Pruneau's double to score the first run of the game. Johnson flipped the score with a set of runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead.
Cade Fuller chipped in with a two-run double to give the lead back to the Lions before another Pruneau hit drove in a run to give the Lions a 4-2 lead.
The Middle innings were kind to Johnson (22-7) who plated two runs in the bottom of the third before a sacrifice fly gave the Royals a 6-5 lead after four complete innings. The Lions answered with a four-spot in the top of the fifth where FHU tallied six base hits. The marathon of hits finally concluded when
Matthew Riley and
Zach Seward teamed up to shut the door in the bottom of the ninth in the 12-8 victory.
JJ Pruneau led at the plate by going 4-6, while Cade fuller smacked three hits.
Trace Anderson,
Austin Johnson, and
Cam Madding each tallied two. Anderson, Fuller, and Pruneau each drove home three runs while Madding plated two.
Jackson Fitzilson (2-0) earned the victory in relief of
Hunter Bennett's start.
Scoring Summary
Top 1
The first of four hits for
JJ Pruneau came in the form of an RBI double to score
Cade Fuller.
FHU 1, JU 0
Bottom 1
Johnson answered with an RBI triple and an RBI single to take a lead.
FHU 1, JU 2
Top 2
Fuller connected for a two-run double to score both
Trace Anderson and
Drake Blackwood. Pruneau would drive Fuller home with a single.
FHU 4, JU 2
Bottom 2
The Royals connected for a solo homer.
FHU 4, JU 3
Top 3
Cam Madding's single plated
Austin Johnson.
FHU 5, JU 3
Bottom 3
Johnson would knot the game up with an RBI single and a groundout.
FHU 5, JU 5
Bottom 4
The hosts would take a lead after a sacrifice fly.
FHU 5, JU 6
Top 5
FHU's big inning started with a two-run single by Anderson to score Johnson and
Hunter McLemore. Fuller's single then scored
Hunter Ryan before Pruneau continued his big day with a single to score Anderson.
FHU 9, JU 6
Bottom 5
An error allowed a run to cross for Johnson.
FHU 9, JU 7
Top 6
Madding's single scored Johnson before Anderson singled home Blackwood.
FHU 11, JU 7
Top 8
Blackwood hit the lone FHU homer in the victory.
FHU 12, JU 7
Bottom 8
The last score crossed with an RBI single.
FHU 12, JU 8
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Up Next
The impending weather has moved the Lions' next series with MSC foe Lindsey Wilson College beginning with a single game on March 27 at 6:00 p.m. and a doubleheader beginning at noon on March 28.
*Recap edited on 3/27/25 to reflect correct statistics
