After falling twice on Saturday, the No. 18 Freed-Hardeman University bats came alive in the final game of the series by tallying 12 hits in a 13-6 victory over the Bethel (Tenn.) University Wildcats.
FHU (23-8, 4-2 MSC) got rolling in the bottom of the first inning by scoring four runs. Adam Smithson collected one-out single before a walk and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Cade Fuller’s double to drive home two. A wild throw by the Bethel infield not only extended the inning, but allowed two unearned runs to cross and give FHU a 4-0 lead.
The Lions extended their lead in the bottom of the third inning when Austin Johnson connected for his collegiate career’s first home run to right-center field. Kimmey Johnson followed with a double down the leg side, eventually scoring on Christian Presley’s sacrifice fly to put the Lions on top of the Wildcats 21-7, 2-4 MSC) 6-0.
Brady Spring led off the bottom of the fourth frame with a home run over the scoreboard in right field to give the Lions a 7-0 advantage. It was not until the top of the sixth inning when a set of RBI groundouts put Bethel on the board and made the score 7-3.
FHU answered with a five-run sixth inning, scoring all five with two outs. First JJ Pruneau’s single plated two runners before Smithson drove in a pair with a double to left field. A passed ball allowed Presley to score an unearned run before the final out was recorded with the Lions leading 12-3.
Bethel added two more runs in the top of the eighth inning before William Kelley was able to score the 13th run of the game on a throwing error. With runners on first and second a strange double-lay helped FHU in the top of the ninth when a line drive to Fuller was knocked down, then Fuller was able to recover to tag second to record a force out before tossing to Spring at third base who applied the tag on the lead runner. A strikeout ended the 13-6 game in victory for the Lions.
Houston High (6-2) struck out two while surrendering one walk in 6 2/3 innings to earn the victory.
Adam Smithson was 3-6 in the victory while driving in two runs. Cade Fuller and JJ Pruneau both had two hits and two RBI while Austin Johnson’s home run was one of his two hits.
