HENDERSON — Celebrating their seniors between games, the (RV) Freed-Hardeman University Lions completed their third consecutive Mid-South Conference sweep by winning both ends of a doubleheader against the Bethel Wildcats. In the first game, FHU scored in five innings to claim an 11-8 win. In the second game, the Lions had three different four-run frames to get the victory, 13-3, in run-rule fashion in eight innings.
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Game 1
Bethel - 8
(RV) Freed-Hardeman - 11
In the first game of the afternoon, the Lions (27-11, 10-1 MSC) surrendered the first run of the game, but immediately answered in the home half of the inning to tie things up. FHU took the lead in the bottom of the third thanks to
Brooks Jones' three-run blast.
Bethel (10-22, 4-7 MSC) hoped to mount a comeback in the top of the fourth inning by scoring two runs; however, the Lions would answer with four runs in an inning where FHU connected four six base knocks. The Wildcats scored four runs in the to top of the sixth to make it a one-run contest, but
Hunter Ryan's double drove home one of two runs in the inning to cement the victory.
JJ Pruneau was 3-for-3 from the dish, while Brook Jones' two hits drove in a team-high four runs.
Trace Anderson and
Brennan Petersen each had two hits in the victory.
Hunter McLemore (5-2) picked up the victory after striking out four in five complete innings.
Justin Smarr (3) got the save after tossing two perfect innings with four strikeouts.
Scoring Summary
Top 1
The Wildcats sent the first pitch of the day over the fence for a leadoff homer.
FHU 0, Bethel 1
Bottom 1
Two walks and a hit batsman set up
JJ Pruneau to hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game.
FHU 1, Bethel 1
Top 3
A one-out double helped Bethel get on the board again.
FHU 1, Bethel 2
Bottom 3
After
Trace Anderson drew a four-pitch walk and
Brennen Gibson was hit by a pitch,
Brooks Jones hammered a three-run homer to put FHU on top.
FHU 4, Bethel 2
Top 4
An error and a sacrifice fly helped two more runs cross.
FHU 4, Bethel 4
Bottom 4
Chase Eakes and
Brennan Petersen had back-to-back base hits before both scoring on
Trace Anderson's two-run single. Jones would later drive in a run with a single before Pruneau added another RBI single to cap the four-run, six-hit frame.
FHU 9, Bethel 4
Top 6
A three-run homer and an RBI groundout pulled the Wildcats within one run.
FHU 9, Bethel 8
Bottom 6
The Lions added some insurance thanks in part to an outfield error.
Hunter Ryan would double home the final run of the day in the victory.
FHU 11, Bethel 8
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Game 2 (8 inn.)
Bethel - 3
(RV) Freed-Hardeman - 13
The heart of the Freed-Hardeman (28-11, 11-1 MSC) dealt the most damage with the Lions scoring four runs in three different innings. Their patience showed off in the second inning with a bases-loaded hit batter and and walk put the Lions on top early.
The Lions saved their fireworks over the Wildcats (10-23, 4-8 MSC)Â until the final inning. Aside from
Trace Anderson's solo shot in the fourth, both FHU homers came in the eighth inning.
Drake Blackwood and
Hunter Ryan each had two-run blasts, with Ryan's coming in walkoff fashion.
Alejandro Diaz,
Hunter Ryan,
JJ Pruneau, and
Ben Turner each had two base hits in the victory, with Ryan driving in a team-high four runs.Â
Colton Bryant (6-1) went the distance on the bump, striking out six batters while surrendering just one walk.
Scoring Summary
Top 2
The Wildcats scored the first run of the game when a two-out walk culminated with an RBI single later in the inning.
FHU 0, Bethel 1
Bottom 2
JJ Pruneau leld off the inning with a single, with his courtesy runner (
Chase Eakes) tapping home later with
Hunter Ryan's sacrifice fly. A passed ball let a run score while the Lions drew three walks and a hit batsman to score three more runs.
FHU 4, Bethel 1
Top 3
Bethel answered with a two-run homer.
FHU 4, Bethel 3
Bottom 4
Trace Anderson led off the fourth with a homer.
FHU 5, Bethel 3
Bottom 6
Thre Lions added four runs in the sixth, first thanks to a Bethel error that allowed two runs to score. A bases-loaded walk by
Alejandro Diaz was followed by an RBI single from Ryan.
FHU 9, Bethel 3
Bottom 8
A pair of two-run bombs ended the game in run-rule fashion.
Drake Blackwood launched a two-run homer before Ryan would later complete the victory with a two-run blast of his own.
FHU 13, Bethel 3
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Up Next
FHU's Celebration of America will the the final chance to catch the Lions in action at home, as they host the Blue Mountain Christian (Miss.) University Toppers on April 14.
