By Dustin Semore
FHU Information Director
Despite being tied 2-2 moving the bottom of the fifth inning, the No. 25 Freed-Hardeman University Lions out-scored the Viterbo (Wis.) University V-Hawks 8-2 over the last six innings to sweet their first series of the season with a 10-4 victory.
The Lions (4-0) fell behind early when the V-Hawks connected for a two-out RBI double in the top of the first inning. Adam Smithson’s speed helped FHU answer back in the bottom of the inning. Smithson led off FHU’s offense with a roundabout double: a single followed by a stolen base. The thievery helped when Cam Madding’s groundout drove in the Lions’ first run.
FHU jumped ahead of Viterbo (0-4) in the bottom of the second inning after Trace Anderson laced a triple into right-center field, scoring on the next play when Jordan Carter’s groundout drove him home. The V-Hawks answered back in the top of the third to tie the game 2-2.
That would hold until the bottom of the fifth inning when FHU led off the frame with a single from Brady Spring. Smithson’s second hit of the game drove in Spring’s pinch runner – Kimmey Johnson – before Smithson would wheel around second to stand on third after a pickoff attempt went into right field. Madding’s infield single plated Smithson to give the Lions a 4-2 lead.
Viterbo nearly tied the game in the top of the sixth inning when a runner was attempting to score a second run on an RBI single, but was cut down at the plate to preserve a 4-3 lead.
FHU added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth thanks to an Anderson double before Lane Lawson had a two-run pinch hit double to give the Lions a 7-3 lead after six complete innings.
Anderson’s big day continued in the bottom of the seventh inning when the sophomore rocketed a three-run homer to end FHU’s big offensive outing in a 10-4 win.
It was a platoon effort both offensively and defensively with the Lions utilizing 21 players including five pitchers. Jackson Fitzwilson (1-0) picked up the victory in his first collegiate appearance in relief of Matthew Riley.
Trace Anderson was a single short of the cycle, going 3-4 from the plate and driving in four runs. Adam Smithson and Brady Spring both connected for a pair of hits each, while Lane Lawson and Cam Madding added two RBI each.
