Central, SC – The Emmanuel Softball team traveled to Central, SC today to take on the Southern Wesleyan University Warriors in Conference Carolinas play. The Lions got off to a quick start in game one, scoring 7 runs in the first to take the game 13-4.  In game two, the Lions continued their momentum from game one, taking it 13-6. With the sweep, the Lions improve to 16-19 overall and 5-7 in conference play.
 
GAME ONE –
 
The Lions got on the board early in game one. Ellee Varner started things off, reaching on an error by the shortstop. Lexi Jordan followed that up with a single to right field and Varner advanced to third. Varner would score on a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0, Lions. Alyssa Adams kept things going with a single to score Jordan, giving the Lions a 2-0 lead. Kelley Feigen walked to advance Adams to 2^nd. Gabby Buffington kept the momentum going in Emmanuel's direction with a single to advance Lindsey Crawford (pinch runner for Adams) to third. Isabel Harrison singled to score Crawford, then Hannah Wright grounded out to score Feigen to make the score 4-0, Lions. Aggie Bennett singled to left to score Buffington and Varner collected her second hit of the day to score Harrison, making it 6-0. Jordan hit a single to center to score Bennett and give the Lions a 7-0 lead after the first.
 
In the second inning, the Lions bats stayed hot. Adams hit a single up the middle to start the inning. Feigen reached on an error, advancing to second, then Buffington smashed a triple to right center to score Adams and Feigen, giving the Lions a 9-0 lead. Harrison hit a triple of her own to score Buffington and make it 10-0 Lions. A ground out brought home Harrison to make the score 11-0. Bennet singled up the middle to get on base, advancing to second on a ground out. Jordan would follow that up with a single to right to score Bennett and make it 12-0, Emmanuel. 
 
The Warriors scored four runs on five hits in the bottom of the 4^th to make it 12-4. 
 
In the top of the 5^th, the Lions added one more run onto their lead. Feigen singled to start the inning. Buffington singled to through the left side to advance Feigen to second. Kyna Cheney reached on a fielder's choice to advance Buffington to second, with Mandy Rhinehart (pinch runner) getting put out at 3^rd. Hannah Wright kept things going with a single to score Buffington and make it 13-4, which was the final score. 
 
At the plate, Lexi Jordan was 4-4 and Gabby Buffington was 3-3. 
 
On the mound, Maddie Edwards got the start pitching 3 innings, and giving up four runs on seven hits. She struck out four and walked one batter. 
 
GAME TWO – 
 
The Lions got on the board early to start game two.  Ellee Varner got things started with a single to left. Lexi Jordan followed that up with a single to advance Varner to 2^nd. Jaryn Gibson reached on a fielder's choice to advance Jordan to second, with Varner getting out at third. Alyssa Adams cleared the bases with a home-run to make it 3-0, Lions. 
 
There was nothing going for either team until the top of the 4^th. Kinsley Goolsby got things going for the Lions with a double to center. Aggie Bennett reached on a fielder's choice with Giovanna Sardono (pinch runner) advancing to third on an error. Ellee Varner kept things going with a single that scored Sardono to give the Lions a 4-0 lead. Jordan reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Bennett to make it 5-0. Adams reached on an error to score Jordan, giving the Lions a 6-0 advantage. Buffington singled to score Adams to make it 7-0. 
 
SWU scored two runs on two hits in the bottom of the 5^th to make it 7-2. 
 
The Lions responded in the top of the 6^th. Jordan started things off with a single to center. Gibson singled to advance Jordan to second, and both runners stole a base to put runners on second and third. Adams singled, advancing to second on a throw, with Shelby Aiken (pinch runner) and Jordan scoring to make it 9-0. Isabel Harrison singled to advance Adams to third. Goolsby singled and advanced to second on an error, scoring Harrison and Adams to make it 11-2, Lions. In the bottom of the 5^th, the Warriors cut the Lions lead to 11-5, scoring three runs on one hit. 
 
Emmanuel responded in the top of the 7^th. Gibson hit a single up the middle and Adams brought her home with her second homer of the game to make it 13-5. Southern Wesleyan scored one run on two hits and an error in the bottom half of the inning to make the final score, 13-6. 
 
At the plate, Alyssa Adams led the way with two homeruns, going 3-5.
 
On the mound, Macy Kelley got the start. She pitched a complete game, throwing 7.0 innings giving up six runs (two earned) on six hits. She struck out four batters. 
 
Next up the Lions will host Converse University on Tuesday at 2PM. For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.