Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Duncan, SC – It was Championship Sunday for the Emmanuel Softball team as they faced Francis Marion in the Conference Carolinas Championship. Because it was a double-elimination tournament and the Lions had lost once already, Emmanuel would have to beat the Patriots twice to earn the title. Francis Marion would take an early lead in the first game, but a six-run 7^th inning would give the Lions a 7-5 win to force game two. In game two, the Lions would get off to a hot start, but the Patriots would tie things up late in the game and win in walk-off fashion, 7-5 to take the title. With the split, the Lions finish the season with a record of 35-24. 
 
GAME ONE -
 
It was a pitcher's duel for the first two innings of play in game one, with neither team getting a run across. The Patriots would get on the board first in the bottom of the 3^rd inning, scoring two runs on three hits to take a 2-0 lead.
 
The score would stay that way until the top of the 6^th, when the Lions broke through for a run. Ellee Varner started things off with a double to left field. Lexi Jordan followed that up with a single, advancing to 2^nd on the throw and scoring Varner to make it 2-1, Patriots. 
 
The Lions kept the momentum going in the 7^th inning. Isabel Harrison got things started with a single to center. Gabby Buffington walked and Kinsley Goolsby doubled down the line to score two runs, giving the Lions a 3-2 lead. Aggie Bennett hit a double of her own to left to score Goolsby, making the score 4-2, Lions. Varner got in on the action with a double to left to score Bennett and give the Lions a 5-2 advantage. Jordan kept things going with a single to right center to score Varner. Jordan would score on a sacrifice fly to make it 7-2, Lions. The Patriots answered back quickly, scoring three runs on four hits to make the final score, 7-5, Lions to force a game two. 
 
At the plate, Ellee Varner was 3-4 with an RBI. 
 
On the mound, Macy Kelley got the start pitching 2.2 innings. She gave up two runs on five hits and struck out a batter. Isabel Harrison relieved her, pitching 2.1 innings.  She gave up three hits and struck out a batter. Maddie Edwards earned the win for the Lions, pitching the final 2.0 innings and giving up three runs on four hits. She struck out two batters and walked one. 
  
GAME TWO 
   
The Lions were on the board first in game two. After a scoreless 1^st inning, Jaryn Gibson reached with a walk to start off the 2^nd. Kelley Feigen reached on a fielding error by the right fielder to advance Ciara Passmore (pinch runner) to 3^rd. Isabel Harrison doubled to left center to score Passmore and Feigen, giving the Lions a 2-0 lead. Harrison would score on a ground out to make the score 3-0, Lions. The Patriots would score a run on two hits in the bottom of the 2^nd to make it 3-1, Lions. 
 
The Lions added onto their lead in the top of the 3^rd. Alyssa Adams singled to start the inning and Gibson reached on a throwing error, with Adams getting thrown out at 2^nd. Feigen singled to shortstop and Harrison followed that up with a single to bring in Gibson to make it 4-1.  Gabby Buffington singled up the middle to bring in Feigen and give the Lions a 5-1 lead. 
 
The score stayed this way until the bottom of the 4^th when the Patriots scored four runs on five hits to tie things up at 5-5. 
 
The two teams stayed knotted at 5-5 until the bottom of the 7^th inning when the Patriots brought two runs across in walk-off fashion, on a 2-run home run to win it, 7-5 and earn the title. 
 
At the plate, Isabel Harrison was 3-3 with 3 RBI's.
 
On the mound, Maddie Edwards pitched 6.1 innings. She gave up 7 runs on 12 hits and struck out 5 batters. 
 
Congratulations, Lions on a fantastic season! 
 
For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.