. GREENWOOD, SC – The Emmanuel Softball team concluded their play in the Lander University tournament with a game against Wingate University. The Lions played strong against the Bulldogs, but Wingate would score five runs in the 7th and a lone run in the 8
th, to take the game, 8-7. With the loss, the Lions fall to 5-10 on the season and Wingate improves to 12-3.
The Lions got things started in the second inning with a single by
Isabel Harrison. She advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Kelley Feigen singled to third and
Kyna Cheney reached on a fielder's choice to score Harrison and give the Lions a 1-0 lead.
After a few scoreless innings, the Lions bats got going in the top of the 4
th. Harrison started things off again with a double to right center. Feigen would single to advance Harrison to third.
Hannah Wright would single to center, advancing to second on the throw and advancing Feigen to third and scoring Harrison. Lions led 2-0. Cheney would hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Feigen to make it 3-0 Lions.
Lexi Jordan kept things going for Emmanuel with a single to score
Mandy Rhinehart (pinch runner) and make the score 4-0.
The Lions added another run in the top of the fifth.
Alyssa Adams would start things with a single. Harrison would single to right center, advancing
Shelby Aiken (pinch runner) to third. Feigen would single to center, scoring Aiken and giving the Lions a 5-0 lead.
Wingate got on the board in the bottom of the 5
th with two runs on one hit, leaving one Bulldog on base to cut Emmanuel's lead to 5-2.
Emmanuel answered back in the 6
th. Jordan singled to right center and
Jaryn Gibson singled up the middle to advance Jordan to second. A single by Adams would score Jordan and give the Lions a 6-2 lead.
In the top of the seventh, the Lions would keep their momentum going. Cheney would walk and advanced to second on a single by
Abby Rocco. Jordan singled to first, scoring Cheney to make it 7-2 Lions. In the bottom of the 7
th, the Bulldogs tied things up scoring five runs on four hits and one error, leaving one on base to make it 7-7 heading to the 8
th.
Emmanuel would load the bases in the top of the 8
th, but Wingate would close out the inning with two pop-outs to limit the damage.
In the bottom of the 8
th, Wingate would score the go-ahead run on one hit, to give the Bulldogs an 8-7 win.
At the plate,
Lexi Jordan and
Isabel Harrison each went 4-5, with
Kelley Feigen going 3-4.
On the mound,
Macy Kelley got the start, pitching 6.1 innings and giving up six runs on six hits. She struck out two and walked three of the 32 batters she faced.
Kaitlyn Pickens faced two batters, giving up one run and walking one batter.
Isabel Harrison finished the game on the mound, facing five batters and giving up a run on one hit and a walk.
Next up, the Lions will face Newberry College on Wednesday at 2PM in their home opener.
For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.
