FRANKLIN SPRINGS, GA – The Emmanuel Baseball team hosted Thomas More University in non-conference action this week. The Lions took game one in exciting fashion, with a go-ahead grand slam by Brock Wollin in the 8^th inning to take the game 7-5. The Lions dominated the Saints in game 2, scoring a program high 29 runs to get a 29-1 victory. In game three, the Lions outhit the Saints, 11-2 and won the game 7-1 and the series 3-0. With the sweep, the Lions improve to 10-3 on the season and extend their win streak to 8. 

 
GAME ONE –
 
The two teams met on Friday afternoon for the first time in program history. The Saints got off to an early lead, but the Lions roared back with a grand slam by Brock Wollin to take the game in the 8^th, 7-5. 
 
The Saints got things started in the top of the 2^nd, scoring two runs on four hits, leaving two on base to take a 2-0 lead. 
 
In the third, the Saints added on another run on three hits, leaving two on base to give TMU a 3-0 lead. 
 
In the fourth, TMU added a fourth run on two hits, leaving one on base to lead 4-0, and they tacked another on in the top of the fifth to make the score 5-0. 
 
In the bottom of the 5^th, the Emmanuel bats got swinging. Thomas Collins started things off with walk. Brock Wollin singled to advance Collins to second. Both runners advanced on a ground out, and were brought home by a single by Nick Dietsch, to cut the Saints lead to 5-2. 
 
After a few scoreless innings, the Lions roared back in the bottom of the 8^th. Ryan Muniz started things off with a double to center and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Dobbs Bowden singled to score Muniz, making the score 5-3 Saints. Bailey Stroud singled and the runners advanced on a wild pitch. Hunter Beall reached on an error to load the bases for Brock Wollin, who cleared the bases with a GRAND SLAM to give the Lions the 7-5 lead. Clifford Brown came in to pitch the bottom of the 8^th and sat the Saints down in order with three strike outs to give the Lions the win!
 
At the plate, Wollin led the way going 3-5!
 
On the mound, Ethan Pooler got the start and pitched 3 innings, facing 21 batters. He gave up four runs on 10 hits, striking out 6. Eli Roach was up next, pitching 1.2 innings, giving up one run on one hit. Noah Olson relieved him and faced three batters in less than an inning. Noah Cantleberry earned the win for the Lions, going 2.1 innings and facing 8 batters. He struck out five. Clifford Brown shut the door for Emmanuel, pitching the 9^th and sitting the Saints down in order.
 
With the win, the Lions improve to 8-3 on the season. 
 
GAME TWO – 
 
The Lions got off to a quick start in game two. Jesus Cruz singled to strt the first ining but was caught stealing second. Thomas Collins followed that up with a walk and advanced to second on a walk to Brody Campbell. Nick Dietsch walked to load the bases, and Zachary Bergstrom cleared the bases with a grand-slam to give the Lions a 4-0 lead early. Ryan Muniz kept things going with a single to center, and Van Gupton, Jr. advanced Muniz to second on a single. Both runners advanced on an error by the pitcher, with Muniz scoring on the error to make it 5-0 Lions. Gupton Jr. would steal third and score on a single by Bailey Stroud, 6-0 Lions. 
 
The Lions kept things going in the bottom of the second. Collins started with a single to right field. Wollin followed that up with a single to center, and Campbell advanced the runners with a single. Dietsch tripled to clear the bases, making it 9-0 Lions. Bergstrom followed that up with a double to score Dietsch and give the Lions a 10-0 lead. Muniz and Gupton Jr. both walked to load the bases. Collins singled to left to score Muniz and Bergstrom and give the Lions a 12-0 lead. 
 
The Saints got on the board in the top of the 3^rd, scoring a run and leaving three on base to make it 12-1. 
 
In the bottom of the 4^th, the Lions kept their offense cooking. Stroud started off with a single to center. Cruz and Collins walked to load the bases. Wollin flied out to right field to score Stroud, 13-1 Lions. Next, Campbell hit a double to left field to score Cruz and advance Collins to third, making the score 14-1 Lions. Dietsch was hit by a pitch and Muniz walked to score Collins and make the score 15-1. Gupton Jr. followed that up with a single to score Campbell and give the Lions a 16-1 lead. Stroud walked to advance runners, scoring Dietsch to make it 17-1 Lions, and Cruz walked to score Muniz and end the inning with the Lions leading 18-1.
 
After nothing going for the Saints in the top of the 5^th, the Lions kept cooking. Dietsch started off the inning with a walk, advancing to second on a passed ball. Bergstrom was walked to put runners on first and second for Muniz. Muniz took advantage and hit a double to right field scoring Dietsch and Bergstrom to give the Lions a 20-1 lead. 
 
In the bottom of the 6^th, the Lions added to their lead. Hunter Beall started things off with a walk and advanced to second on an error by the pitcher. Braeden Eavenson and Wollin were hit by pitches to load the bases.  Connor Poitevint was walked, scoring Beall to give the Lions a 21-1 lead. Walker Hawks walked to score Eavenson and give the Lions a 22-1 lead. Bergstrom was walked, scoring Wollin to make it 23-1 Lions. Gupton Jr. walked in a run, scoring Pointevint, 24-1 Lions. 
 
In the bottom of the 7^th the Lions added a run to their lead. Cole Babich was hit by a pitch, advancing to second on a walk to Eavenson. Wollin singled to center to load the bases and a pop up by Hawks scored Babich to give the Lions a 25-1 lead. 
 
In the bottom of the 8^th, the Lions kept things going. Andrew Ferguson was hit by a pitch and was advanced to 2^nd on a walk to Beall. Babich singled to left to advance runners. Eavenson was hit by a pitch and scored Ferguson to give the Lions a 26-1 lead. Wollin was hit by a pitch to score Beall and give Emmanuel a 27-1 lead. Hawks followed that up with a walk, which scored Babich and give the Lions a 28-1 lead. Bergstrom walked to score Eavenson and give the Lions a 29-1 lead, which would be the final score. 
 
At the plate, Zachary Bergstrom went 3-5 with a grand-slam and a double. 
 
Hunter Parks got the start for the Lions on the mound, going 4 innings, striking out four and walking five. He gave up one run on two hits. Ashton Sapp relieved him and pitched two innings. He struck out three and gave up one hit. Lucas Meehan came in next, pitching one inning and striking out one. Bubba Luke was next on the mound, pitching one inning and striking out one. Hunter Maddox closed out the game for the Lions, pitching one inning and striking out two. 
 
The Lions look to go for a sweep tomorrow at 1PM. 
 
GAME THREE – 
 
In the series finale, the Lions looked for a sweep on Sunday afternoon. Emmanuel got off to a strong start, keeping the momentum from Saturday going, and defeated the Saints by a score of 7-1. 
 
Zachary Bergstrom picked up where he left off yesterday, going yard in the second inning to give the Lions a 1-0 lead. 
 
In the third, Jesus Cruz started things off with a single to shortstop, advancing on a groundout by Bailey Stroud. Thomas Collins singled to right field to score Cruz from second and give the Lions a 2-0 advantage. 
 
The Lions bats kept going in the fourth. Brody Campbell got in on the action with a lead-off homerun to make it 3-0 Lions. Bergstrom singled to center, followed by a single to left by Ryan Muniz which advanced Bergstrom to second. Cruz continued the hitting spree with a single to left to advance Muniz to third and score Bergstrom, giving Emmanuel a 4-0 advantage. 
 
After a few scoreless innings, the Lions added onto their lead in the bottom of the 7^th. Muniz started off with a walk, stealing second. Muniz advanced to third on a groundout by Cruz. Stroud followed that up with a single to left to score Muniz and make it 5-0 Lions. Cooper Tomkinson was hit by a pitch, advancing Stroud to second. Collins kept things going with a single to center to score Muniz, making it 6-0 Emmanuel. 
 
The Saints got on the board in the top of the 8^th with a run and one runner left on base. In the bottom of the 8^th, the Lions responded with a run of their own. Braeden Eavenson walked to start the inning and stole second. Bergstrom reached on an error by centerfield, advancing to second and scoring Eavenson to make it 7-1 Lions, which would be the final score. 
 
At the plate, Brody Campbell and Jesus Cruz went 2-3, with Campbell and Zachary Bergstrom hitting homeruns. 
 
On the mound, Hunter Pirkle got the win, pitching a solid 6 innings and striking out 10. He gave out one hit and walked two. Simon Boggie relieved him and pitched one inning, striking out two. Dosie Drakeford was next on the mound, giving up one run in an inning of work. Clifford Brown finished off the day for the Lions, striking out three in an inning. 
 
With the sweep, the Lions extend their win streak to 8 and improve to 10-3 on the season. Next up, the Lions will face Mars Hill University at home on Tuesday at 3PM. 
 
For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.