FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. - The Emmanuel Lions swept a double header today against the Lions from Mars Hill.  Game one was a pitchers duel from the beginning as Bryson Cornett and Zac Brown threw one shut out inning after another.  Mars Hill threatened in the second inning as they had runners at second and third with one out.  Cornett would induce a ground ball and Third Baseman Jake Nichols would gun down the runner at Home plate.  The rally would end as Cornett would strike out Cody Cline to end the inning.  Again in the third inning Cornett would pitch out of a jam striking out two with two runners on base.  In the sixth inning Zach Wells would relieve Cornett with two runners on base to face pinch hitter Shomarii Thomas.  After a long battle Wells would get Thomas swinging at a slider to end the inning.  In the top of the eighth inning Mars Hill threatened to break the scoring wide open as the first two hitters reached base.  Zach Wells would give way to Austin Copeland who would retire the first batter on a sacrifice bunt.  With the infield in Copeland got Thomas to ground out to Israel Zackery before striking out Christian Stampler to quench the threat.  Zac Brown, who had stifled the Lions offense for seven innings, gave way to Kaleb McCurry in the eighth.  Pinch hitter Walker Smith welcomed McCurry into the game depositing his first pitch over the left field wall to break up the shut out.  Philip Swindell and Dustin McNicholl would reach base on singles before scoring on Brock Baughcum's double.  Before the dust would settle on the inning the Lions would score two more runs on a Sacrifice fly, a double and a triple.  As was the case the for the first eight innings the visiting Lions would have runners all over the bases but wouldn't be able to push any runs across as Copeland would strike out the side.

Bryson Cornett – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 5 K's

Zach Wells – 1.1 IP, 0 ER, K

Austin Copeland – (W) 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 4 K's

Walker Smith – 1-2, HR, RBI

Brock Baughcum – 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI

After a great game one, game two starters Dalton Kuhn and Jared Mathewson would lock up in another pitcher duel.  Both starters would battle into the sixth inning both allowing 2 runs before turning the ball over to the bullpen.  Mathewson scattered three hits over the first four innings keeping Emmanuel's offense in check.  Taking advantage of lead off walks in the first and fifth innings Mars Hill would score a single run in each frame.  To lead off the bottom of the fifth inning, trailing by two runs, Philip Swindell would draw a walk in front of Dustin McNicholls two run blast over the left field wall to tie the game.  Dalton Kuhn would take the mound in the sixth and get two quick outs on two pitches before running into trouble as Honeycutt doubled and pinch hitter Owens drew a walk.  After a walk to load the bases Cody Waters would enter the game and strike out Edwards to maintain the tie.  A lead off single by Jacob Saulnier would chase Mathewson from the game and bring in Alec Bivins.  Bivins would get pinch hitter Walker Smith to ground into a double play to clear the bases.  Back to back two out singles by Israel Zackery and Philip Swindell would set the table for Dustin McNicholl.  As he did in the fifth McNicholl would deliver again, punching a single up the middle to plate two runs and put the game out of reach.  Waters would add the exclamation point to the day retiring the final two outs via strike out.

Dalton Kuhn – 5.2 IP, ER, 8 K's

Cody Waters – (W) 1.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 K's

Dustin McNicholl – 3-4, HR, 4 RBI

Jacob Saulnier – 2-3

For more news on Emmanuel College Athletics, visit goeclions.com.