Bristol, TN-The Emmanuel Baseball team traveled to Bristol, TN today to take on the King University Tornado in Conference Carolinas play. The Lions got off to a quick start in game one winning 8-1, then taking the series with a 4-1 win in game two, and an 8-2 finish to sweep. With the sweep, the Lions finish the regular season at 30-20 overall, 18-12 in conference.
 
 
GAME ONE –
 
The Lions got on the board first in the 3^rd inning. Thomas Collins got things started with a single. Brock Wollin followed that up with a single to left, but was thrown out at 2^nd when Brody Campbell reached on a fielder's choice. Nick Dietsch hit a pop fly to left to score Collins and give the Lions a 1-0 lead. The Tornado tied things up in the bottom half of the inning, scoring a run on two hits to make it 1-1.
 
The Lions kept things going in the top of the 4^th. Dobbs Bowden singled to start off the inning. Bailey Stroud singled, with both runners advancing on a wild pitch. Bowden would score on a groundout to make it 2-1, Lions. Collins kept it going with a single to center to score Stroud and give the Lions a 3-1 lead. 
 
The Lions bats stayed hot in the 5^th. Campbell started the inning off strong with a triple to right center. Dietsch doubled down the left field line to score Campbell, making it 4-1, Lions. Ryan Muniz followed it up with a single to score Dietsch, to give the Lions a 5-1 lead. Muniz would advance to 2^nd on a wild pitch and score on a double hit by Bowden to make it 6-1, Lions. 
 
Emmanuel added to their lead in the top of the 6^th with a homerun by Wollin to make it 7-1, Lions. 
 
In the 7^th, Stroud connected for a triple, then an RBI single by Cruz would make it 8-1, which would be the final score. 
 
At the plate, Thomas Collins and Ryan Muniz had three hits apiece. 
 
On the mound, Barrett Barkley got the start going 5.0 innings. He gave up one run on six hits and struck out four batters. Dosie Drakeford came in for an inning, giving up a hit. Chase Lupton relieved him to pitch two innings, striking out a batter. Hunter Parks closed out the game for the Lions, pitching an inning, striking out one batter and walking another. 
 
The two teams will meet again tomorrow at 11AM and 4PM to close out the series. 
 
 
GAME TWO – 
 
The Lions got on the board first in game two. Jesus Cruz and Brock Wollin each reached via hit by pitch and Cruz was brought home with a single by Nick Dietsch to give the Lions a 1-0 lead. 
 
In the top of the 3^rd, Wollin got things going with a double to left center and Brody Campbell followed that up with a double of his own to score Wollin, making it 2-0, Lions early. 
 
After a scoreless 4^th inning, the Lions bats got going in the top of the 5^th. Thomas Collins walked to start the inning, advancing to 2^nd on a wild pitch. Wollin reached on a throwing error, with Collins advancing to 3^rd. Collins scored on a sacrifice fly to give the Lions a 3-0 lead. Dietsch kept the hits coming for the Lions with a double to left to score Wollin, making it 4-0. 
 
The Tornado would get on the board in the bottom of the 7^th with a run on one hit, to make it 4-1 which would be the final score.
 
At the plate, Brody Campbell was 2-3 and Nick Dietsch was 2-4. 
 
On the mound. Hunter Pirkle got the start, going 5.0 innings and giving up 2 hits. He walked two batters. Simon Boggie came in to relieve him, giving up a run on 2 hits in 2.0 innings pitched. He struck out two batters and walked two. 
 
GAME THREE – 
 
The Lions kept their momentum going into game three. After threatening with two hits in the top of the 1^st the Lions got on the board in the 2^nd inning. Ryan Muniz got things going with a double to left and Dobbs Bowden followed that up with a single to score him and give the Lions a 1-0 lead. Bowden advanced to 2^nd on a passed ball and Thomas Collins brought him home with a home-run to right field to make it 3-0, Lions. King would score a run on one hit in the bottom half of the inning to make it 3-1, Emmanuel. 
 
The Tornado added a run in the bottom of the 3^rd to cut the Lions lead to 3-2. 
 
After a scoreless 4^th inning, the Lions got back into the swing of things in the top of the 5^th.  Cruz reached after getting hit by a pitch and Wollin singled to left to put runners on 1^st and 2^nd. Brody Campbell took advantage with a home-run to right to make it 6-2, Lions. Zachary Bergstrom got into the action with a solo shot of his own to make it 7-2, Emmanuel. 
 
There was nothing going for either team until the top of the 8^th when Collins hit his second homer of the game to make it 8-2, Lions which would be the final.
 
At the plate, three Lions went yard with home-runs. 
 
On the mound, Ethan Pooler got the nod going 7.0 innings. He gave up 2 runs on 6 hits and struck out 9 batters. Noah Cantleberry came in next, pitching an inning and giving up 2 hits, walking 2 batters. Chase Lupton came in to close out the game, facing a batter. 
 
With the win, the Lions met a milestone, winning 30-games for the first time since joining NCAA DII. Next up, the Lions will compete in the Conference Carolinas Tournament.
 
For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.