COLUMBUS, GA – The Emmanuel Softball Lions traveled to Columbus, GA. today to take on the Columbus State Cougars in a double-header. The Lions bats were hot from the start and Emmanuel swept the Cougars, 9-1 and 13-9. With the wins, the Lions improve to 3-2 on the season. 
 
GAME ONE –
 
After a scoreless 1^st inning, the Lions got things going offensively in the 2^nd. Kyna Cheney started things off with a single. Gabby Buffington reached on an error to advance Cheney to second. Isabel Harrison followed that up with a single to first base and advanced to 2^nd on the throw, advancing Buffington to third and scoring Cheney. The Lions took a 1-0 lead on the play. Ciara Passmore cleared the bases with a 3-run homer to give the Lions a 4-0 advantage. 
 
After a few scoreless innings, the Lions added onto their lead in the 5^th inning. Ellee Varner singled up the middle and was brought home on a double by Alyssa Adams. After 5, the Lions led 5-0. 
 
In the 6^th, Emmanuel kept their momentum going. Lexi Jordan started things off with a single to first. Buffington brought her home by hitting a homer to left field, making the score 7-0 Lions. Aggie Bennett (pinch hitter) was hit by a pitch and Ciara Passmore reached on a fielder's choice to third base, advancing Bennett to second. Abby Rocco (pinch hitter) hit into a double play, with Bennett advancing on the play. Jaryn Gibson put an exclamation mark on the inning by hitting her second home run of the season, scoring Bennett to make the score 9-0. The Cougars scored one run on one hit in the bottom of the 6^th, to bring the final score to 9-1 Lions. 
 
At the plate, three Lions went yard (Passmore, Buffington, and Gibson), and Alyssa Adams added a double. 
 
Maddie Edwards got the start on the mound, pitching six innings and facing 21 batters. She struck out 5 and gave up one run on three hits. 
 
With the win, the Lions improved to 2-2 on the season. 
 
GAME TWO
 
The Lions picked up where they left off in game two. Ciara Passmore started the game with a walk and Ellee Varner singled to advance Passmore to second. Runners would advance to second and third on a passed ball, and Alyssa Adams would walk to load the bases.  Lexi Jordan singled to left to score Passmore. Lions lead 1-0. In the bottom of the 1^st, the Cougars scored 3 runs on 2 hits to take a 3-1 lead. 
 
CSU added to their lead in the bottom on the 2^nd, scoring 3 runs on 4 hits to take a 6-1 lead. The Cougars would tack on another run in the bottom half of the 3^rd on one hit to take a 7-1 lead. 
 
The Lions bats got going in the top of the 4^th. Gabby Buffington started the inning with a double to left field. Isabel Harrison followed that up with a double to center to score Buffington, making the score 7-2, Cougars. Passmore reached on a fielding error by the shortstop and Harrison scored on the play, to bring the Lions within four, 7-3. Ellee Varner singled to third to advance Passmore to second and Jaryn Gibson cleared the bases with her third home run of the season to make the score, 7-6. 
 
Columbus State added a run to their lead in the bottom of the 5^th making the score 8-6. 
 
Varner's bat stayed hot in the 6^th, starting the inning with a single to shortstop.  Gibson reached on a fielder's choice and Varner advanced to second on a throwing error. Adams would load the bases with a walk and then Lexi Jordan would single to center to score Varner, 8-7 Cougars. Kyna Cheney flied out to right field, scoring Gibson and tying the game at 8-8. Buffington would fly out to right field, scoring Adams to give the Lions the lead, 9-8. 
 
In the top of the 7^th, the Lions kept the momentum going. Harrison reached on a fielder's choice, advancing to second on a single by Varner. Gibson reached on a fielder's choice, advancing Harrison to third. Adams followed that up with a walk, advancing Gibson to second. Jordan would single up the middle, advancing to second on the throw, advancing Adams to third and scoring Gibson and Harrison. The Lions led 11-8. Cheney reached on a fielding error, scoring Jordan and Adams to give the Lions a 13-8 lead. The Cougars scored one run on two hits in the bottom half of the inning, and the Lions came away with a 13-9 victory. 
 
At the plate, Ellee Varner was 4-5, Lexi Jordan was 3-5 and Isabel Harrison was 2-3. 
 
Kaitlyn Pickens got the start for the Lions on the mound. She faced 6 batters and gave up 3 runs on 2 hits, one walk, and two hit batters. Haley Mullins faced 10 batters and gave up 4 runs on 5 hits. She struck out one and walked one.  Isabel Harrison closed out the game and earned the win. She pitched 5 innings and faced 24 batters. She gave up 2 runs on 4 hits, struck out 4 and walked 3. 
 
With the win, the Lions improve to 3-2 on the season. They'll be back on the diamond on Friday facing Catawba at 4PM at the University of North Georgia Tournament. 
 
For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.