Franklin Springs, GA – The Emmanuel Softball team hosted the Young Harris Mountain Lions today in Conference Carolinas action. A four-run 5^th inning gave the Lions the edge in game one, to take a 6-3 victory, but the Mountain Lions answered back in game two with a 16-10 victory in 10 innings. With the split, the Lions are now 12-15 overall, 3-3 in conference play.
 
GAME ONE –
 
Young Harris got on the board first in game one, scoring one run on two hits in the top of the 2^nd, to take a 1-0 lead. The Lions responded in the bottom of the 2^nd to tie things up at 1-1 on a homerun by Alyssa Adams. 
 
In the bottom of the 4^th, the Lions took the lead on a homerun by Gabby Buffington, to make it 2-1 Lions. 
 
In the bottom of the 5^th, the Lions continued their momentum. Abigail Curry got things started with a single to left. Ellee Varner followed that up with a single to shortstop to advance Curry to second. Lexi Jordan singled to center to load the bases for Buffington. Buffington walked, to score Curry and give the Lions a 3-1 lead. Jaryn Gibson followed that up with another walk to score Varner and make it 4-1, Emmanuel. Adams reached on an error by the 3^rd baseman to score Buffington and Jordan and give the Lions a 6-1 lead.
 
In the top of the 6^th, the Mountain Lions responded with two runs of their own on two hits to cut the Lions lead to 6-3. 
 
There was nothing going in the 7^th inning for either team, and Emmanuel took the game 6-3. 
 
At the plate, Abigail Curry went 2-3 and Gabby Buffington and Alyssa Adams each hit homers. 
 
On the mound, Maddie Edwards pitched a strong 7.0 innings, giving up 3 runs on 8 hits and striking out 8 batters. 
 
GAME TWO –
 
Young Harris got on the board first in game two, with a run on three hits in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. 
 
In the top of the third, the Mountain Lions added to their lead, scoring a run on three hits to take a 2-0 lead. The Lions responded in the bottom of the 3^rd. Kelley Feigen started things off with a single to shortstop. Aggie Bennett followed that up with a single to left to advance Mandy Rhinehart (pinch runner) to second. Ellee Varner kept things going with a single to short to load the bases, and Lexi Jordan singled to right to score Rhinehart and make it 2-1, Young Harris.
 
Young Harris answered back in the top of the 4^th, scoring a run on two hits to make it 3-1. 
 
In the top of the 5^th, the Mountain Lions added to their lead, scoring four runs on four hits to go up, 7-1. The Lions scored a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Kyna Cheny got on base with a walk, advancing to second on a ground-out. Lexi Jordan singled to center to score Cheney and make it 7-2, Young Harris. 
 
In the bottom of the 6^th, the Lions continued to comeback. Alyssa Adams started things off with a homerun to center to make it 7-3, Young Harris. Isabel Harrison kept the momentum going with a triple to left. Feigen singled to shortstop to score Harrison, cutting the Young Harris lead to 7-4. 
 
In the bottom of the 7^th, the Lions kept fighting. Jordan got on base with a walk, then Buffington reached on a fielder's choice, with Ciara Passmore (pinch runner) getting thrown out at second. Gibson singled to second to advance Buffington to second, then Adams doubled to center to score Gibson and make it 7-5, Young Harris. Curry reached on an error by the third baseman and then Harrison hit her second triple of the game to score Shelby Aiken and Lindsey Crawford (pinch runners) and tie the game up at 7-7. 
 
After a scoreless 8^th, the Mountain Lions took the lead back in the top of the 9^th scoring two runs on one hit to go up 9-7. The Lions answered back in the bottom half of the inning. With Jordan placed on second, Gibson homered to center to tie the game at 9-9. 
 
In the top of the 10^th, the Mountain Lions scored seven runs on two hits to take a 16-9 lead. The Lions got one of the runs back in the bottom half of the inning to make the final score 16-10, Young Harris. 
 
At the plate, Isabel Harrison was 3-5 with 3 RBI's. She had two triples and a double on the day.
 
On the mound, Macy Kelley got the start, going 4.2 innings. She gave up 7 runs on 12 hits and struck out three batters. Isabel Harrison relieved her, pitching 5.1 innings. She gave up 9 runs (6 earned) on three hits, walked four batters and struck out three. 
 
Next up, the Lions will travel to Shorter on March 19 at 1PM. 
 
For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.