MCKENZIE, Tenn. — The Lions of Freed-Hardeman University battled back to score five runs in the seventh to win the first game 8-6 against the Bethel University Wildcats before a five-run sixth inning lifted FHU to an 8-6 win in game two.
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Game 1
Freed-Hardeman - 8
Bethel - 6
Though falling behind early the Lions (23-14, 4-3 MSC) never gave up in the first game against the Wildcats. After Bethel put up two early runs
Cade Fuller's RBI single cut into the lead.
Bethel (14-15, 2-7 MSC) added breathing room a two-run homer in the fourth inning, but the Lions battled back with a
Cam Madding single.
Saving their best for last, the Lion seventh inning began withÂ
Trace Anderson drawing a leadoff walk to set up Fuller to smack a two-run blast to give the Lions the lead.
JJ Pruneau followed with a single with his courtesy runner,
Hunter Ryan, promptly swiping second and third.
Dawson Massengale then drove home Ryan before back-to-back singles from
Austin Johnson and
Brooks Jones gave the Lions an 8-4 lead.
Cade Fuller was 3-5 from the plate to drive in three runs while
JJ Pruneau had a pair of hits.
Zach Seward (2-1) earned the victory in relief of
Matthew Riley while
Colton Bryant (2) shut the door in the seventh with a pair of strikeouts to get his second save of the season.
Scoring Summary
Bottom 2
A sacrifice fly started the day's scoring before an RBI single gave the hosts a two-run lead.
FHU 0, Bethel 2
Top 3
Cade Fuller cut into the BU lead with an RBI single to plate
Austin Johnson.
FHU 1, Bethel 2
Bottom 4
The Wildcats expanded their lead with a two-run blast.
FHU 1, Bethel 4
Top 5
Cam Madding's RBI single plated
Trace Anderson.
FHU 2, Bethel 4
Top 6
Dalton Bonner send a solo homer over the fence to spark momentum for the Lions.
FHU 3, Bethel 4
Top 7
FHU's five-run seventh started with a two-run homer from
Cade Fuller to also score
Ben Turner.
Dawson Massengale then drove home
Hunter Ryan before
Austin Johnson's RBI single scored
Dalton Bonner.
Brooks Jones' RBI single ended the big frame by driving home Jordan Carder.
FHU 8, Bethel 4
Bottom 7
The Wildcats threatened to bounce back with a two-run homer but the Lions completed the win.
FHU 8, Bethel 6
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Game 2
Freed-Hardeman - 8
Bethel - 6
The Lions (24-14, 5-3 MSC) secured the series win by earning a victory in the back half of the doubleheader. Bethel took an early lead with a homer and an RBI single before the Lions cracked the scoreboard in the top half of the third inning.
The Wildcats (14-16, 2-8 MSC) extended their lead to three runs in the bottom of the third, but the Lions continued to have timely hits with
Brooks Jones connecting for RBI singles in the fourth and the sixth. It was
Trace Anderson's groundout that knotted the game and the RBI double from
JJ Pruneau that gave the Lions the lead.
Dawson Massengale gave the men in maroon insurance with a two-run homer to seal the win.
Hunter McLemore (4-1) grabbed the five-strikeout victory in relief of
Evan Koob.
Colton Bryant (3) earned his second save of the day by collecting the last two outs.
Scoring Summary
Bottom 1
The long ball got the game started with the Wildcats hitting a solo homer.
FHU 0, Bethel 1
Bottom 2
An RBI single made it a two-run game.
FHU 0, Bethel 2
Top 3
Cade Fuller coming home to score took the sting out of a double play.
FHU 1, Bethel 2
Bottom 3
Bethel added more runs with a set of RBI singles.
FHU 1, Bethel 4
Top 4
Brook Jones' single plated
Austin Johnson to again make it a two-run game.
FHU 2, Bethel 4
Top 6
The Lions scored five runs in the top of the sixth beginning with Jones connecting for another single - this time driving in
Jordan Carter.
Trace Anderson drove home
Austin Johnson before
JJ Pruneau's double scored Jones.
Dawson Massengale had a big swing for a two-run homer to drive himself and Pruneau home.
FHU 7, Bethel 4
Bottom 8
A two-run home run for the Wildcats hoped to spark a Bethel rally.
FHU 7, Bethel 6
Top 9
Carter's RBI single drove home Massengale to finish the scoring.
FHU 8, Bethel 6
