GAFNEY, SC – The Emmanuel Baseball team traveled to Gafney, SC to take on Limestone University in a three-game series. The Lions took game one, 11-3 in comeback fashion on Friday, before winning a doubleheader to close out the series, 6-2 and 5-1. With the wins, the Lions improve to 6-3 on the season. 
 
GAME ONE –
 
The Lions got off to a hot start against Limestone with an 11-3 comeback victory. 
 
After three scoreless innings, the Lions got things started in the top of the fourth with a home-run by Nick Dietsch, his fourth of the season to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.  Limestone would tie things up in the bottom of the 4^th, scoring one run on two hits.
 
In the bottom of the 5^th, Limestone would take a 3-1 lead on home-run. 
 
The Lions responded in the 6^th inning, with Dietsch starting things off with a double down the left field line. Cooper Tomkinson followed that up with a walk, and Ryan Muniz reached on a fielder's choice to advance Tomkinson. Both runners would steal a base and Tomkinson would score on a pop fly to centerfield by Dobbs Bowden. The Lions would tie things up on a single by Bailey Stroud, scoring Muniz to make the score, 3-3.
 
The Lions kept their momentum going in the 7^th. Tommy Collins started out with a walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. Brock Wollin grounded out to advance Collins to third. After an intentional walk to Brody Campbell, Campbell would steal second. Dietsch was also intentionally walked, and all runners advanced on a wild pitch, with Collins scoring to take the lead, 4-3. 
 
In the top of the 8^th, the Lions opened things up. Jesus Cruz started things off with a walk and stole second. Collins was intentionally walked and the runners advanced on a single by Wollin to shortstop. Campbell would follow that up with a single to center, scoring Wollin, Cruz and Collins. This would give the Lions a 7-3 lead. Dietsch followed this up with his second home-run of the night, giving the Lions a 9-3 lead. 
 
After a scoreless inning for Limestone, the Lions kept the bats hot in the top of the 9^th. Bowden singled to right field and Stroud reached on a fielder's choice, with Bowden out at second. Cruz reached on a fielding error, with Stroud out at second, Cruz advancing to second. Cruz advanced to third on a wild pitch. Collins walked, and Eavenson pinch ran for him. Wollin walked, advancing to second on a balk scoring Cruz. Campbell singled to second to score Eavenson, giving the Lions a 11-3 lead and a  game one win. 

Ethan Pooler got the nod for the Lions on the mound. He pitched 6 innings and struck out 8. He gave up 3 runs on 4 hits. Chase Lupton came in next and pitched one inning facing three batters. Dosie Drakeford was next, throwing a scoreless inning to maintain the lead. Eli Roach finished out the game for the Lions, pitching an inning and facing three batters. 
 
GAME TWO – 
 
Due to the threat of inclement weather on Sunday, the teams played two on Saturday to close out the series. The Lions won game two, 6-2 to take the series. 
 
The Lions got things started early! Jesus Cruz walked to start the game and was brought home on a home-run by Brody Campbell to make it 2-0 Lions. 
 
Limestone got a run off of two hits in the bottom of the third to make it 2-1, Emmanuel. 
 
After a few scoreless innings, the Lions bats got going in the top of the 5^th. Bailey Stroud reached on a fielding error by the shortstop to start things off. Jesus Cruz reached on a fielder's choice, and Stroud advanced on a throwing error. Thomas Collins followed that up with a walk, and Brock Wollin was hit by a pitch to score Stroud and make the score 3-1 Lions. Campbell would single to right to score Cruz, and give the Lions a 4-1 lead. 
 
In the bottom of the 6^th, Limestone would get a run off of one hit, leaving two on base to bring the score to 4-2. 
 
After a few scoreless innings, the Lions got something cooking in the top of the 9^th. Tommy Collins got hit by a pitch to start things off. Wollin advanced Collins to third on a double, and Campbell then flied out to left field to score Collins, making the score, 5-2 Lions. Nick Dietsch walked, advancing to third on a single by Cooper Tomkinson, and scoring on a passed ball to make the final score 6-2, Emmanuel. 
 
At the plate, Brody Campbell went 2-3 with 4 RBI's and Brock Wollin went 2-4. 
 
Hunter Parks got the nod on the mound, pitching 5 innings and facing 23 batters. He gave up 2 runs on 5 hits and struck out 6. Noah Cantleberry relieved him, pitching 2 innings and facing 9 batters. He gave up 2 hits and struck out 4 batters. Clifford Brown finished off game two, pitching two innings and facing 8 batters. He gave up one hit, struck out one and walked one. 
 
GAME THREE – 
 
The Lions looked for the sweep in game three of the series against Limestone. Freshman, Hunter Pirkle pitched five strong innings on the mound and the Lions scored runs when they needed them to earn a 5-1 win and a 3-0 series sweep over Limestone. 
 
The teams remained scoreless until the top of the third when the Lions got things started. Bailey Stroud started by hitting a single to shortstop. Thomas Collins followed that up with a single to right to advance Stroud to second. Brock Wollin advanced on a fielder's choice, with Collins getting thrown out at 2^nd and Stroud advancing to third. Wollin advanced to second and Stroud would score on a wild pitch to make it 1-0 Lions.
 
After a few quiet innings, the Lions got back into it in the top of the 5^th. Collins started with a double to right field. Wollin grounded out to shortstop and Eavenson (pinch runner for Collins) advanced to third. Campbell was intentionally walked, and the bases were cleared by Nick Dietsch, who homered to left field to make the score 4-0. 
 
The Lions added onto their lead in the top of the 6^th. Cruz singled to left center and advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a passed ball. Eavenson walked and Wollin flied out to leftfield to score Cruz, making the score 5-1 Lions. Limestone scored one run on one hit in the bottom half of the inning, leaving two on base. 
 
The two teams went scoreless the rest of the way and the Lions earned the 5-1 win and the series sweep, 3-0. 
 
At the plate in game three, Tommy Collins went 2-3 and Bailey Stroud went 2-4.
 
On the mound, Hunter Pirkle got the win, pitching five innings and striking out five. He gave up six hits and walked one. Zakk Gibbons relieved him, facing 5 batters. He gave up one run on one hit, struck out one and walked two. Simon Boggie came in next for the Lions, pitching two innings. He faced eight batters, striking out three and walking one. Barrett Barkley closed out the game, pitching one inning. He faced four batters and gave up one hit. 
 
Up next, the Lions will host Augusta University on Tuesday!
 
For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.