DUNCAN, SC - The #6 seed Emmanuel softball team took on the #1 seed King University Tornado on Saturday. As the only two unbeaten teams, the winner would earn an automatic title game berth. The Tornado captured the victory in the pitching battle, 3-2.
With this being their first loss in the double-elimination championship, the Lions got a second chance in the evening. This time they faced #5 seed Francis Marion in an elimination game. The winner would get the final spot in the title game, while the loser had to head home. Seven innings weren't enough to settle it, but after two extra innings it was the Patriots who came out on top, 4-3.
Emmanuel vs King:
The first four innings had just three combined hits as Maddie Edwards of Emmanuel and Nikole Counts of King battled it out from the pitchers' circles. Emmanuel managed a pair of hits in the top of the fifth, but it was King in the bottom of the same inning who scored first. The Lions answered in the sixth, putting up two runs when senior Ally Harris singled down the right field line to send both Jewels Ayers (who pinch ran for Mackenzie Hogan) and Glory Thompson home.
With the Lions leading 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth, King hit back-to-back solo home runs to take a 3-2 lead. In the top of the seventh the Lions needed at least one run to extend the game. With one out, Gabby Buffington singled and Jaryn Gibson and Glory Thompson both walked. This put Kyna Cheney at the plate with the bases loaded. Cheney lined out to the shortstop, who immediately threw to first base. Thompson dove for the tag up, and the umpire called her safe. However, after the umpires all conferred, they determined it was an out, giving King the 3-2 victory.
Edwards went the entire game for the Lions, allowing just seven hits and three runs while striking out four and walking none.
Nikole Counts got the win for the Tornado on the mound, while Marleigh Duncan recorded the save.
Ally Harris led the Emmanuel offense, recording two hits in three at bats along with both of Emmanuel's RBIs.
Emmanuel vs Francis Marion:
The second game was another pitching battle, but this time around the Lions were able to break through in the third inning. Lily Jordan and Glory Thompson both recorded RBI's in the frame, sending Ally Harris and Brighton Harder home. However, a pitching change for Francis Marion put an end to Emmanuel's offensive onslaught. The fourth and fifth innings were scoreless, but the Patriots got on the board in the bottom of the sixth when they scored off a single.
The Lions were unable to score in the top of the seventh, but still entered the last half inning of regulation with a 2-1 lead. However, the Patriots tied the game off a sac fly in the bottom of the seventh, forcing extra innings. With the international softball tiebreaker rule in effect, each team automatically places a runner on second to begin their at-bat. Thompson was placed on second for the Lions, and she scored two plays later, after a sac bunt from Kasey Westmoreland and a sac fly by Chloe Nadler. This gave Emmanuel a 3-2 lead.
The Patriots also scored off their runner that was placed on second, tying the game 3-3. Then, FMU loaded the bases with only one out, needing just one run for the walk off win. Kaitlyn Pickens was in the circle for the Lions, and the team's season was on her shoulders. After a line out to short stop, Pickens recorded her fourth strike out of the day, keeping Emmanuel's hopes alive and extending the game to a ninth inning. However, the Lions were unable to score in the top of the ninth, giving the Patriots the chance to end the game. FMU capitalized, scoring with their runner placed on second and winning the game, 4-3.
Kaitlyn Pickens went all nine innings for the Lions, throwing 167 pitches against 43 batters. She gave up 10 hits, but held the Patriots to just two earned runs while striking out four.
Rachel Davis pitched the last seven innings for the Patriots and recorded the win.
Ally Harris and Lexi Jordan led the Lion offense with two hits each.
Softball finished the season with an overall record, including the postseason, of 37-22. This is the winningest mark in program history, besting the 2008 team's record of 32-20.
For more on Emmanuel College athletics, visit goeclions.com.
