HENDERSON — After a relatively low-scoring opening day, the Freed-Hardeman University Lions and their opponents combined for 32 runs across 14 innings in a Sunday split. After run-ruling the University of Saint Francis (Ind.) Cougars, 16-5, in seven innings, FHU fell to the Midway (Ky.) University Eagles 6-5.
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Game 1 (7 inn.)
Saint Francis - 5
Freed-Hardeman - 16
Freed-Hardeman (3-0) used a 10-run fifth inning to propel them to a victory in game one. FHU had two homers in the game: first by
Brennen Gibson before
Chase Eakes ended the game in the bottom of the seventh with a big fly.Â
The big fifth inning was due in part to the Lions' patience at the plate. The Saint Francis (1-3) threw three bases-loaded walks with an additional hit batsman with the bases loaded.
Brennen Gibson had two base hits while driving in four runs in the victory.
Ryan Sanchez got the start, going three innings and striking out five Cougars.
Clay Strope (1-0) earned the victory in relief where he struck out four batters in three innings.
Scoring Summary
Bottom 2
Brooks Jones led off the inning with a single before a pair of walks loaded the bases.
Tyree Claxton would then draw a walk to drive in Jones for the first run.
FHU 1, USF 0
Top 3
The Cougars flipped the script with a three-hit two-run half inning. FHU limited the damage with the third out being a tag at the plate.
FHU 1, USF 2
Bottom 3
The USF lead did not last long as
Brennen Gibson recorded a home run for his first career hit to drive in himself and
Michael Glick.
FHU 3, USF 2
Bottom 4
Freed-Hardeman continued adding runs when
Hunter Ryan led off being hit by a pitch, later scoring thanks to
Trace Anderson's RBI double.
FHU 4, USF 2
Bottom 5
The Lions pushed 10 runs across in the inning despite only recording two hits. Ryan and Anderson were joined by
Drake Blackwood with bases-loaded walks while
Alejandro Diaz was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Two runs would later score thanks to two different USF errors until Gibson smacked a two-run double to make it 13-2. Batting around, Ryan's single plated Gibson to complete the 10-run frame.
FHU 14, USF 2
Top 7
Saint Francis escaped being run-ruled in the top of the seventh when a three-run blast put FHU's lead at nine runs instead of the required 10.
FHU 14, USF 5
Bottom 7
With another game to play,
Chase Eakes' bat was the one to end the first game with a two-run homer.
FHU 16, USF 5
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Game 2
Midway - 6
Freed-Hardeman - 5
Despite out-hitting their opponents, Freed-Hardeman (3-1) suffered their first defeat in the final game of the weekend. After falling behind 3-0,
Colin Milligan drove in the first Lion run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Midway (2-2) cleared the bases with a double in the sixth inning, but the Lions were not finished.
JJ Pruneau drove home two runners with a double before
Brooks Jones drove in another run with a two-bagger of his own. Midway was able to leave the tying run in scoring position with the final out of the day.
Brooks Jones,
JJ Pruneau, and
Hunter Ryan each had two hits, with Pruneau driving in a team-high two RBI.
Grayson Waller (0-1) was charged with the loss after three innings where he struck out two.
Scoring Summary
Top 2
The Eagles got the game started with an RBI double
FHU 0, Midway 1
Top 4
Midway added a set of runs with a two-run single after FHU committed two errors.
FHU 0, Midway 3
Bottom 5
FHU began to chip away at Midway's lead when
Chase Eakes led off the inning with a single. He would later score when
Colin Milligan's sacrifice fly attempt was dropped. Later in the inning,
Hunter Ryan scored a run thanks to a passed ball.
FHU 2, Midway 3
Top 6
A bases-loaded double drove in three runs to extend Midway's lead.
FHU 2, Midway 6
Bottom 7
The Lions fought valiantly in the final inning with
JJ Pruneau driving in
Drake Blackwood and
Hunter Ryan.
Brooks Jones kept the bats going an RBI double of his own to make it a one-run game, but FHU could not get the tying run across.
FHU 5, Midway 6
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