Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Aiken, SC – The Emmanuel Softball team traveled to Aiken, SC today to take on USC Aiken in a non-conference doubleheader. The Pacers took game one, 7-2 but the Lions responded well to earn a 5-4 victory in game two to split the series. The Lions now sit at 3-10 on the season.

GAME ONE – 

The Pacers got things started early in game one with a run on one hit in the bottom of the first to go up 1-0. 

The score stayed this way until the bottom of the 4^th when the Pacers added 6 runs on 8 hits to make the score 7-0. 

The Lions responded to get on the board in the top of the 6^th.

Jaryn Gibson started the inning off with a double to left field. Aggie Bennett followed that up with a 2-out single to score Gibson to cut the Pacers lead to 7-1.

The Lions kept things going in the top of the 7^th.

Ellee Varner singled to start the inning and advanced to 2^nd on a throwing error. Arlie Gooden followed that up by reaching on a fielding error to put runners at 1^st and 2^nd. Gibson singled up the middle to score Varner making the final score, 7-2 Pacers.

At the plate, Jaryn Gibson led the way going 3-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Ellee Varner and Kelsey Lester both went 2-4. 

On the mound, Cassidy Jenkins got the start. She went 3.2 innings and gave up 7 runs on 11 hits. She struck out a batter and walked a batter. Addison Hendrix relieved her to face one batter. Reagan Garrett closed out the game for the Lions, throwing 2.0 innings and striking out two batters.

GAME TWO 
The Lions got on the board first in game two with a run scored in the top of the 3^rd. 

Ciarra Passmore walked to start the inning. Reagan Smith followed that up with a successful bunt to advance Passmore to 2^nd. With runners at 1^st and 2^nd, Ellee Varner loaded the bases with a single and Abby Rocco came in clutch with a single down the left field line to score Passmore to give the Lions a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the 3^rd, the Pacers responded with two runs on three hits to take a 2-1 lead.
The Lions tied things up in the top of the 5^th. 

Smith singled to right to start the inning, then Varner reached on a fielder's choice that put Smith out at 2^nd. Varner advanced to 3^rd on a wild pitch and scored on a pop fly to right field to make it 2-2. In the bottom half of the inning, the Pacers retook the lead scoring two runs on three hits to make it 4-2, USC Aiken. 

The Lions responded in the top of the 7^th. 

Varner started things off with a single and stole 2^nd. Gibson followed that up with a two-out single to right field to score Varner, cutting the Pacers lead to 4-3. Reagan Garrett kept things going with a double to left center to score Arlie Gooden (pinch runner) to tie things at 4-4. Gabby Buffington hit a double of her own to score Garrett to give the Lions a 5-4 lead. The Pacers threatened in the bottom of the 7^th but couldn't get the tying run across, giving the Lions a 5-4 victory. 

At the plate, Gabby Buffington and Reagan Smith went 2-3, with Buffington hitting the go-ahead double. 

On the mound, Carly Forrester went seven strong innings. She gave up 4 runs on 9 hits and struck out one batter.

The Lions will be back in action on Wednesday as they host Augusta University for a doubleheader. First pitch will be at 2PM with game two following at 4PM.

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