AIKEN, SC – The Emmanuel Baseball team traveled to Aiken, SC this weekend for a three-game series with the USC-Aiken Pacers. The Lions got off to a strong start with a 10-5 victory in game one. Emmanuel followed that up with a 7-3 win in game two, and a 6-2 win in game three to earn the sweep! With the series win, the Lions now sit at 5-2 on the season. 
 
 
GAME ONE –
 
The Lions got off to a fast start in game one.
 
Jesus Cruz was walked to start the first inning, and Brock Wollin followed that up with a double to left center to advance Cruz to third. Cruz scored and Wollin advanced to third on a passed ball to make it 1-0, Lions. 
 
After a scoreless 2^nd inning, the Lions bats got back to work in the 3^rd. Cruz cranked a solo homerun down the right field line to make it 2-0, Lions. Wollin followed that up with a walk and Hayden Beall singled to center to advance Wollin to 2^nd. Landon Mokris loaded the bases with a walk, but the Lions couldn't bring any more runs across. In the bottom of the third, the Pacers got on the board with three runs on two hits to take a 3-2 lead.
 
After a scoreless 4^th inning, the Lions responded well. Cruz started things off with a single to center and stole second. Wollin brought him home with a triple to right center to tie things at 3-3. After a walk to Beall, Mokris flied out to center field to score Wollin and give the Lions a 4-3 lead. The Pacers tied things up in the bottom half of the inning with a solo homer to make it 4-4. 
 
The Lions bats were on fire in the 6^th inning. Tyler Bradford started the inning getting hit by a pitch, advancing to 2^nd on a wild pitch. Dobbs Bowden walked to put runners on 1^st and 2nd. The runners advanced a base on a wild pitch, then Bradford scored on a second wild pitch to give the Lions a 5-4 lead. Cruz singled to the left side to score Bowden, making it 6-4, Lions. He later advanced to 2^nd on a wild pitch and Beall reached on a throwing error, which eventually scored Cruz and advanced Beall to 2^nd making it 7-4, Lions. Mokris kept things going for the Lions with a 2-run shot to left field to make it 9-4, Lions. 
 
After a scoreless 7^th inning, the Lions added a run to their lead in the top of the 8^th. Cruz walked to start the inning and Wollin singled up the middle to advance Cruz to 2^nd. The runners advanced a base on a wild pitch and Cameron Hancock loaded the bases with a walk. Zachary Bergstrom walked to score Cruz and give the Lions a 10-4 lead. 
 
In the bottom of the 9^th, the Pacers scored a run on one hit to make the final score 10-5, Lions.
 
At the plate, Jesus Cruz was 4-4 and scored 5 runs. He had 2 RBI's on the night. Brock Wollin ended the night 3-4 with one RBI.
 
On the mound, Ethan Pooler got the start going 6.1 strong innings. He gave up 4 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits and struck out 5 batters. Hunter Maddox came in next, facing 2 batters and forcing both into groundouts. Barrett Barkley relieved him to pitch 1.0 innings and striking out 3 batters. Hunter Parks closed out the game pitching 1.1 innings and giving up 1 run on 1 hit, striking out 2 batters. 
 
The Lions will be back in action tomorrow at 2PM. 
 
GAME TWO – 
 
The Lions bats started out hot in game two.
 
Brock Wollin started things off with a single to left field, advancing on a throwing error. Landon Mokris followed that up with a 2-run bomb to left center to give the Lions a 2-0 lead early. 
 
The Lions added to their lead in the top of the 2^nd. Nick Madrigal started things off with a single to center, and Tyler Bradford followed that up with a hit by pitch. Dobbs Bowden grounded out to advance runners to 2^nd and 3^rd, then another groundout scored Madrigal to make it 3-0, Lions. Jesus Cruz followed that up with a single through the right side to score Bradford and make the score 4-0, Lions. 
 
The two teams were scoreless until the 5^th inning when the Lions bats got back to work. 
Hayden Beall started the inning with a single to right field. Mokris singled to left center to advance Beall to 2^nd. Cameron Hancock reached on a fielder's choice which ended with Mokris getting thrown out at 2^nd. Madrigal reached on an error by the 3^rd baseman, which scored Beall to give the Lions a 5-0 advantage. 
 
The Lions added to their lead in the top of the 7^th. Cruz reached on an error and Beall doubled to left center to advance Cruz to 3^rd. Mokris grounded out to score Cruz, giving the Lions a 6-0 lead. 
 
The Lions kept things going in the top of the 8^th. Bradford doubled to left field to start the inning, advancing to 3^rd on a wild pitch. Bowden flied out to score Bradford, giving the Lions a 7-0 lead. In the bottom half of the inning, the Pacers scored one run on two hits to make it 7-1. 
 
After a scoreless top of the 9^th, the Pacers scored two runs on one hit in the bottom half of the inning to make the final score 7-3, Lions.
 
At the plate, Hayden Beall was 2-4 with 1 run scored. Landon Mokris was 2-5 with a homerun and three RBI's.
 
On the mound, Hunter Pirkle went 7 strong innings, giving up 5 hits and striking out 5 batters. Lucas Meehan relieved him to pitch 1 inning. He gave up 1 run and 2 hits. Noah Cantleberry closed out the game for the Lions. He threw 1.0 innings and gave up 2 runs on 1 hit. 
 
The Lions will look to earn the sweep tomorrow at 1PM. 
 
GAME THREE – 
 
The two teams got off to a slow start in game three. 
 
After two scoreless innings, the Lions bats got to work in the top of the 3^rd. Dobbs Bowden started things off with a single to third base. Ryan Muniz grounded out to advance Bowden to 2^nd base and Jesus Cruz singled to right center to score him giving the Lions a 1-0 lead. 
 
In the bottom of the 4^th the Pacers tied things up with 1 run on 2 hits to make the score 1-1. 
 
After a scoreless 5^th inning, the Lions got back in business in the top of the 6^th. Muniz started the inning off with a single to left center, advancing to 2^nd on a passed ball. Next up, Cruz walked to put runners on 1^st and 2^nd, and Brock Wollin singled through the left side to score Muniz, making it 2-1 Lions. Landon Mokris picked up where he left off yesterday with a 2-run double down the left field line to give the Lions a 4-1 lead. 
 
The Lions tacked on two runs to their lead in the top of the 8^th. Cruz started the inning off with a single to right field and Wollin homered to centerfield to give the Lions a 6-1 lead which would be the final score.
 
At the plate, Jesus Cruz and Brock Wollin were 2-3 on the afternoon. Cruz finished with 2 runs scored and an RBI while Wollin ended the day with a homerun, 2 runs scored and 3 RBI's. On the mound, Brayden Pooler got the nod. He went 4.0 innings and gave up 1 run on 2 hits, struck out 3 batters and walked 3. Kody Collins relieved him to pitch 1.0 inning. He gave up 1 hit, struck out a batter and walked one. Zach Evans came in next, throwing 1.0 inning. He struck out one batter and walked one batter. Hunter Maddox relieved him to pitch 1.0 inning, giving up 2 hits. Barrett Barkley closed out the game throwing 1.0 innings. He walked 3 batters and struck out 2. Hunter Parks relieved him, going 1.0 innings. He gave up 1 run on 3 hits. 
 
The Lions will be back in action on Tuesday for their home opener against Mars Hill University. First pitch is at 3PM. 
 
For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.