LEBANON, Tenn. — In the final game of the regular season, the (RV) Freed-Hardeman University Lions amassed 17 hits to the Cumberland Phoneix's 12. Unfortunately for FHU, the hosts had a higher number in the run column as the Lions fell 13-8.

Freed-Hardeman (32-15, 13-5) found themselves digging out of an early hole with Cumberland jumping out to a seven-run lead after three innings. JJ Pruneau drove in the first Lion before FHU's three-run sixth narrowed the Phoenix's lead to four.

Cumberland (23-25, 10-8 MSC) dashed the hopes of a Lion comeback with a five-run seventh inning. FHU added four runs in the top of the eighth, butt the Lions could not complete the turnaround.

Six Lions had a multi-hit night, with Drake Blackwood, JJ Pruneau, and Hunter Ryan leading the way with all three players tallying three base hits. Alejandro Diaz, Brennen Gibson, and Hunter McLemore followed with two hits each.

Ryan Sanchez (0-3) got the start, tossing 2 1/3 innings before giving the ball to four more bullpen arms.


Scoring Summary

Bottom 2
A one-out walk set up the Phoenix to plate a later run with an RBI single.
FHU 0, CU 1

Bottom 3
The Phoenix amassed six runs on five hits, including a two-run homer and a later three-run blast.
FHU 0, CU 7

Top 4
JJ Pruneau got the Lions on the board when his double drove home Brooks Jones.
FHU 1, CU 7

Bottom 4
An RBI double put another CU run on the board.
FHU 1, CU 8

Top 6
The Lions began chipping away at the lead when Drake Blackwood led off the inning with a solo homer. Brennen Gibson, Pruneau, and Alejandro Diaz then hit back-to-back-to-back doubles to score two more runs.
FHU 4, CU 8

Bottom 7
Cumberland had another big frame with a two-run double highlighting a five-run inning.
FHU 4, CU 13

Top 8
Hunter Ryan's single drove hom Diaz while also loading the bases. Trace Anderson drew the bases-loaded walk before Blackwood hit a two-run single.
FHU 8, CU 13
 

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Up Next

The Lions are the No. 2 seed in the Mid-South Conference Championship, and will face the No. 5 seed Campbellsville Tigers at Bowling Green Ballpark on April 29 at 2:30 p.m. 
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