Franklin Springs, GA – The Emmanuel Softball Lions hosted North Greenville University today in conference play. The Lions got off to a strong start, winning game one, 13-4. They kept the momentum going strong in game two, winning 13-5 to take the series. With the sweep, the Lions improve to 25-20 on the season, 12-8 in conference play. 
 
North Greenville got off to a strong start, getting on the board in the top of the 2^nd, scoring a run on one hit to take a 1-0 lead. 
 
In the top of the 3^rd, Crusaders added to their lead, scoring two runs on three hits to take a 3-0 lead. In the bottom half of the inning, the Lions responded. Ellee Varner singled start the inning, and Lexi Jordan doubled to center to bring her home, cutting the NGU lead to 3-1. Jaryn Gibson singled to score Jordan, making the score 3-2, NGU. Isabel Harrison homered to right to give the Lions the lead, 4-3. 
 
North Greenville tied things up in the top of the 4^th, scoring a run on two hits to make it 4-4. 
 
The Lions took the lead back in the bottom of the 5^th. Varner got on base with a single, and Gibson singled to bring her home, giving the Lions a 5-4 lead. 
 
The Lions bats exploded in the bottom of the 6^th inning. Gabby Buffington singled to center to start things off. Hannah Wright doubled to left to advance Buffington to third. Buffington scored on a ground-out to give the Lions a 6-4 lead, and Wright scored quickly after on a single by Varner to make it 7-4, Lions. Jordan singled to short and Alyssa Adams walked to load the bases for Gibson. Gibson singled to center to score Varner, making it 8-4, Lions and Harrison followed it up with a 2-RBI single to make it 10-4, Emmanuel. Gibson scored on a ground-out to make it 11-4, and Buffington closed out the game with a 2-run homer to make the final score 13-4, Lions. 
 
At the plate, Jaryn Gibson was 3-4 with 3 RBI's and 2 runs scored. Isabel Harrison was 2-3 with 4 RBI's. 
 
On the mound, Maddie Edwards got the nod. She went 6.0 innings, giving up 4 runs on 8 hits and struck out 4 batters. 
 
GAME TWO 
 
Emmanuel got on the board first in game two with a solo home-run by Alyssa Adams to give the Lions a 1-0 lead. 
 
In the top of the 2^nd, the Crusaders went back in front, scoring two runs on three hits. In the bottom half of the inning, the Lions bats exploded to take a 6-2 lead. Kelley Feigen doubled to start things off, then Gabby Buffington doubled to score her and tie things up at 2. Kinsley Goolsby got on base via hit by pitch and Ellee Varner reached on a fielders choice to load the bases. Buffington scored on a line-out, to make it 3-2, Lions. Alyssa Adams singled to left to score Shelby Aiken (pinch runner for Goolsby) and Varner to give the Lions a 5-2 lead. Jaryn Gibson singled to center to score Adams, making it 6-2, Lions. 
 
NGU make it 6-4 in the top of the third, scoring two runs on three hits and an error.
 
In the top of the 4^th, the Crusaders added another run to get within a run of the lead, 6-5. 
 
In the bottom of the 5^th, the Lions bats got hot. Harrison and Abigail Curry walked to start the inning. Buffington singled to score Harrison, giving the Lions a 7-5 lead. Kinsley Goolsby opened things up with a 3-run homer to right to make it 10-5. Aggie Bennett kept things going with a single to center. Varner singled to shortstop and Jordan singled to left to load the bases. Adams then singled to center to score Bennett, making the score 11-5, Lions. Varner scored on a sacrifice fly to give the Lions a 12-5 lead. 
 
In the bottom of the 6^th, the Lions added a run to their lead. Buffington singled to left and Bennett brought her home on a single to center to make the final score, 13-5 Lions. 
 
At the plate, Alyssa Adams was 3-4 with 4 RBI's. Gabby Buffington went 3-4 with 2 RBI's. 
 
On the mound, Macy Kelley got the start.  She pitched 6 innings, giving up 5 runs on 11 hits and struck out 5 batters. 
 
Next up, the Lions will travel to Young Harris College on Saturday to face the Mountain Lions in a doubleheader. First pitch is at 1PM with the second game following at 3PM. 
 
For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.