FRANKLIN SPRINGS, GA – The Emmanuel Baseball team hosted Belmont Abbey College this weekend in a three-game series. The Lions took game one in walk-off fashion, coming back from 2-0 to earn a 6-5 win on a single by Landon Mokris in the 9th. In game two, two bases clearing home-runs from the Crusaders gave Belmont Abbey the 7-3 edge. The Crusaders carried their momentum into game three, earning a 15-0 shutout victory. With the series loss, the Lions to 8-7 on the season, 2-4 in conference action.

GAME ONE 

The Crusaders jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st scoring one run on two hits. 

Belmont Abbey added to their lead in the top of the 2nd, scoring one run on one hit and an error to make it 2-0, Crusaders. 

The score remained that way until the bottom of the 7th when the Lions got on the board. Hayden Beall walked to start things off, then Parker Westbrook doubled to left field to bring him home to make it 2-1, Crusaders. 

The Crusaders answered in the top of the 8th with three runs on four hits to make the score 5-1. The Lions responded well in the bottom half of the inning. Jesus Cruz reached on an error by the 2nd baseman, and Brock Wollin singled to left field to advance Cruz to 2nd. Landon Mokris reached on a fielder's choice that put Wollin out at 2nd and advanced Cruz to 3rd. Beall followed that up with a single to score Cruz, cutting the Crusader lead to 5-2. Mokris scored on an error to make it 5-3, Crusaders then Zachary Bergstrom singled to center to score Oliver, making it 5-4. 

After a scoreless top of the 9th for the Crusaders, the Lions walked it off in the bottom of the 9th scoring 2 runs on 2 hits. Ryan Muniz walked to start the inning and Wollin laced a triple to left field to score him to tie the game, 5-5. Landon Mokris followed that up with a walk-off single to left field to score Wollin, giving the Lions a 6-5 win. 

At the plate, Hayden Beall and Nick Madrigal went 2-3, with Brock Wollin collecting 2 hits including the game-tying triple. 

On the mound, Ethan Pooler went seven strong innings, giving up 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits. He struck out 9 batters. Lucas Meehan came in next, facing 5 batters. He gave up 2 runs on 3 hits. JJ Neal came in to face one batter and Hunter Parks closed out the game to earn the win, going 1.0 inning and striking out 2 of the 3 batters he faced.

GAME TWO 

Belmont Abbey jumped out to an early lead in the top of the 1st with a three-run home run giving the Crusaders a 3-0 lead. 
The Lions responded in the bottom of the 2nd.  Hayden Beall was hit by a pitch to start the inning, advancing to 2nd on a ground out. Nick Madrigal followed that up with a single to center field to score Beall, making the score 3-1, Crusaders.

The Crusaders added to their lead in the top of the 3rd, scoring two runs on two hits to go up 5-1. In the bottom half of the inning, the Lions got back to work. Ryan Muniz singled to left field to start the inning, advancing to third on a wild pitch. Jesus Cruz walked to put runners on the corners, then Brock Wollin flied out to right field to score Muniz, cutting the Crusader lead to 5-2. 

Belmont Abbey added a run to their lead in the top of the 5th on two hits to make it 6-2. The Lions responded in the bottom half of the inning. Muniz singled to shortstop to start things off, advancing to 2nd on a wild pitch. Landon Mokris followed that up with a two-out single to left to score Muniz, making it 6-3. 

In the top of the 6th, the Crusaders scored a run to make it 7-3, which would be the final score.

Ryan Muniz led the way for the Lions going 2-3 with two runs scored.

On the mound, Hunter Pirkle went 5.0 innings. He gave up 7 runs on 6 hits, striking out 3 batters and walking 4. Gavin Richardson relieved him to pitch 2 scoreless innings, striking out one batter. 

GAME THREE

Belmont Abbey got on the board first in game three scoring two runs on one hit in the top of the 2nd. 

In the top of the 4th, the Crusaders added 3 runs on 4 hits to go up 5-0.  The Lions threatened in the bottom half of the inning but couldn't get a run across.

In the top of the 6th, the Crusaders scored 4 runs on 3 hits to make it 9-0. 

In the top of the 7th the Crusaders tacked on 6 runs on 6 hits to make the final score 15-0. 

At the plate, Landon Mokris, Zachary Bergstrom, Austin Bourrie and Dobbs Bowden registered a hit for the Lions. 

On the mound, Brayden Pooler got the nod, going 3.0 innings. He gave up 5 runs on 6 hits and struck out five batters. Hunter Maddox relieved him to pitch 2.0 innings. He gave up 3 runs on 4 hits and walked a batter. Zach Evans came in next, going 1.0 inning and giving up a run on an error. He struck out one batter and walked another. Jamin Smith relieved him to pitch to 6 batters. He gave up 4 runs on 3 hits and walked a batter. William Fife was next on the mound to face five batters. He gave up 2 runs on 3 hits. He walked a batter and struck out a batter. Will Sherman came in next and struck out three batters in one inning of work. Barrett Barkley closed out the game for the Lions, giving up one hit in an inning of work and striking out a batter. 

The Lions will be back in action on Wednesday at 5PM as they host Georgia College & State University. 

For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.