Franklin Springs – The Emmanuel Lions Baseball team hosted the Southern Wesleyan University Warriors for a three-game series this weekend in Conference Carolinas play. The Lions started things off on Saturday with a win in dramatic fashion, with Thomas Collins driving in a run in the 10^th inning to give the Lions a 5-4 win. The Lions took game two, 9-7 and won the third on a walk-off single by Hayden Beall, 5-4. 
 
 
GAME ONE –
 
The Lions opened up the scoring in the third inning when Brock Wollin doubled to score two runs, giving the Lions a 2-0 lead. 
 
In the top of the 4^th, the Warriors tied things up, scoring two runs on one hit to make it 2-2. 
In the bottom of the 4^th, the Lions took the lead on a solo home-run by Hayden Beall, giving the Lions a 3-2 edge. 
 
In the top of the 6^th, the Warriors answered back with a 2-run home-run to make it 4-3,  Warriors.
 
In the bottom of the 9^th, smart base-running by Zachary Bergstrom tied things up for the Lions, as he scored after tagging up to make it 4-4. 
 
In the bottom of the 10^th, the game was still tied at 4-4 when Thomas Collins singled to drive in a run and give the Lions a 5-4 win. 
 
At the plate, Emmanuel tallied 10 hits. Wollin drove the middle of the lineup, leading Emmanuel with two RBI's. The left fielder went 1-2 on the day. Collins led the Lions with four hits in six at-bats. Beall collected two hits in four at bats. 
 
Barrett Barkley earned the start for the Lions, surrendering three hits and three runs (one earned) over five innings. He struck out three and walked one. Clifford Brown earned the win for the Lions, giving up three hits and zero runs over three innings of work. He struck out eight batters and walked one. 
 
The two teams will resume the series tomorrow at 2PM with game three following shortly after. 
 
GAME TWO – 
 
The Lions got things started quickly in game two with a home-run by Thomas Collins in the first to give Emmanuel a 1-0 lead. 
 
In the bottom of the 2^nd, the Warriors tied things up at 1-1 with a run on two hits. 
 
The Lions opened the game up in the bottom of the 2^nd. Nick Dietsch got things going with a home-run to left to start the inning for the Lions, making it 2-1, Emmanuel. Hayden Beall followed that up with a walk, advancing to second on a wild pitch. Ryan Muniz singled to right to advance Beall to third, and he then scored on a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1, Lions. Bailey Stroud got on base with a walk, and Jesus Cruz followed that up by getting on base on a fielder's choice, with Stroud getting thrown out at second. Collins singled to score Muniz and give the Lions a 4-1 lead, and advanced to third on a failed pick-off attempt, with Cruz scoring to make it 5-1, Lions. Brock Wollin kept things going for the Lions with a single to score Collins, giving the Lions a 6-1 lead.
 
The Warriors answered back in the top of the 3^rd, tying things up with five runs on four hits and an error to make it 6-6. In the bottom of the 3^rd, the Lions responded with a run of their own on a home-run by Ryan Muniz to go up, 7-6.
 
In the bottom of the 4^th, the Lions kept things going. Stroud was hit by a pitch, advancing to second on a walk to Cruz. Collins singled to right field to score Stroud and make it 8-6, Lions. Cruz later scored on a ground-out to give the Lions a 9-6 lead.
 
After a few scoreless innings, the Warriors scored a run on three hits in the top of the 7^th to make it 9-7, Lions which would be the final score.
 
At the plate, Thomas Collins was 4-4, scored 2 runs and had 3 RBI's. Collins, Nick Dietsch, and Ryan Muniz each hit solo home-runs in the game. 
 
On the mound. Hunter Pirkle got the start, pitching 2.2 innings and giving up 5 runs (4 earned) on 5 hits. He struck out three batters and walked two. Chase Lupton earned the win for the Lions, pitching 3.2 innings and giving up 2 runs on 4 hits. He struck out four batters. Simon Boggie closed out the game, facing four batters and giving up one hit. 
 
GAME THREE – 
 
In game three, it was the Warriors who got off to a quick start. 
 
SWU took the lead in the top of the 2^nd on a home-run to take a 1-0 advantage. 
 
In the top of the 3^rd, the Warriors scored three runs on two hits to make it 4-0. 
 
The score stayed that way until the bottom of the 9^th inning when the Lions bats came alive. Dobbs Bowden got things started with a double to left. Bailey Stroud singled to shortstop, and Cooper Tomkinson doubled to score Bowden and get the Lions on the board, 4-1. Thomas Collins singled to the pitcher to score Stroud and cut the Warrior lead in half, 4-2. Brock Wollin singled to center to score Tomkinson and make it 4-3, Warriors. Dee Oliver came in as a pinch runner for Wollin and stole second base. Nick Dietsch was hit by a pitch to put runners on 1^st and 2^nd for Hayden Beall. Beall took advantage of the situation and hit a walk-off single to right field, scoring Collins and Oliver and giving the Lions a 5-4 win! 
 
At the plate, Brock Wollin and Dobbs Bowden were 3-4. 
 
On the mound, Ethan Pooler was dealing! He pitched 7.0 innings, giving up 4 runs on 8 hits and striking out 10 batters. Dosie Drakeford relieved him, pitching 2.0 innings and giving up 2 hits, striking out 5 batters. 
 
With the sweep, the Lions improve to 16-12 on the season, 6-6 in conference play.
 
Next up the Lions will travel to Aiken to take on USC-Aiken on Tuesday at 5PM. For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.