HENDERSON — Beginning a four-game weekend against the University of St. Francis (Ill.) Fighting Saints, the Freed-Hardeman University Lions had no trouble scoring runs. In the first game of the weekend, the Lions picked up a 15-5 victory before wrapping the second game in a 16-6 run-rule victory.
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Game 1
St. Francis - 5
Freed-Hardeman - 15
In the series opener, the Lions (10-3) scored multiple runs across five innings including a six-run fifth frame. Though two runs crossed in the bottom of the first,
Trace Anderson truly opened the FHU scoring with a three-run blast to give FHU a 5-1 lead. FHU added four more runs with five hits in the bottom of the third.
FHU picked up six more runs over the Saints (3-6) in the bottom of the fifth inning highlighted by two-run hits from
Brennan Petersen and
Dean Bechman.
Drake Blackwood ended game one with a 3-for-3 day from the plate, while six different Lions had two base-hits.
Trace Anderson led the run production with four RBI.
Hunter McLemore (2-0) got the victory after five innings where he stuck out two while allowing one unearned run.
Scoring Summary
Top 1
A ground-rule double with a runner on second put the Saints on the board.
FHU 0, USF 1
Bottom 1
Hunter Ryan had a ground rule double before advancing to third on a balk.
Brooks Jones singled to the pitcher to drive the tying run before
JJ Pruneau's double drove in
Brennen Gibson.
FHU 2, USF 1
Bottom 2
Brennan Petersen led off being hit by a pitch before
Drake Blackwood smoked a double down the left field line.
Trace Anderson then unloaded on a 1-1 offering for a three-run blast.
FHU 5, USF 1
Bottom 3
Petersen, Blackwood, Anderson, and Ryan each led a hit parade with four straight base knocks. Anderson's single plated Petersen while Ryan's two-bagger drvoe Blackwood home.
Brooks Jones would drive in Anderson before Pruneau had a single to score Ryan.
FHU 9, USF 1
Bottom 5
Case Maxwell led off the fifth being hit by a pitch, scoring on the next pitch with Gibson's RBI triple. Logan Steward aired a sacrifice fly to score Gibson before Peterson's two-run single scored
Chase Eakes and
Michael Glick.
Dean Bechman bounced a ground-rule double to plate both Blackwood and Petersen to cap the six-run inning.
FHU 15, USF 1
Top 7
St. Francis had two home runs, including a three-run shot, to cut into the lead before the final out was recorded.
FHU 15, USF 5
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Game 2 (7 inn.)
St. Francis - 6
Freed-Hardeman - 16
The Lions (11-3) kept the bats alive in the second game of the doubleheader with 16 runs on 14 hits. The big hit of the first inning was off the bat of
Chase Eakes who unloaded for a grand slam.Â
FHU would continue to score against St. Francis (3-7) at will, putting up runs in all but one inning before
Brooks Jones pushed the Lions over the 10-run mark to end the game early in the seventh inning for the win.
Brooks Jones was a perfect 4-for-4 while driving in six runs.
Drake Blackwood,
Brennen Gibson, and
JJ Pruneau each had two hits in the win.
Jackson Fitzwilson (4-0) earned the victory with five innings.
Scoring Summary
Bottom 1
Trace Anderson led off the game with a walk, later scoring on
Brooks Jones' RBI double. After
JJ Pruneau drew a walk to load the bases,
Chase Eakes went to the opposite field on the first pitch he saw for a grand slam.
FHU 5, USF 0
Top 2
The Saints answered with four runs off of five hits. Four of those five of those hits were singles with a sacrifice fly driving in the fourth run of the inning.
FHU 5, USF 4
Bottom 2
Hunter Ryan and
Brennen Gibson each singled and stole a base. Jones would drive Ryan in with a sacrifice fly before Pruneau's single plated Gibson.
FHU 7, USF 4
Top 3
A leadoff single was followed by a double and a sacrifice fly.
FHU 7, USF 5
Bottom 4
Jones continued his high-powered run production with a double down the left field line to score Gibson. Pruneau would then drive Jones in with a single up the middle.
FHU 9, USF 5
Bottom 5
A single from
Brennan Petersen was followed by a
Drake Blackwood double. Anderson lifted a sacrifice fly to send Petersen home.
FHU 10, USF 5
Top 6
A throwing error allowed an unearned run to score.
FHU 10, USF 6
Bottom 6
Gibson led off with a walk before Jones got a single and Pruneau loaded the bases with a walk.
Hunter McLemore drove in Gibson before Petersen lifted a sacrifice fly to plate Jones.
FHU 12, USF 6
Bottom 7
Blackwood led off the seventh with a single, later scoring when Ryan reached on a fielder's choice. Gibson then reached base on an error before he and Ryan tapped home with Jones' three-run homer giving FHU the needed 10-run lead to end the game.
FHU 16, USF 6
