Franklin Springs, GA – The Emmanuel Softball team hosted the King University Tornado in conference action this afternoon. King got off to a hot start, scoring 3 runs in the first inning to take a 3-0 lead, but the Lions roared back with 6 runs in the 2^nd to take the lead. The Tornado battled back late, but the Lions held on to take game one, 12-11. In game two, the Lions took an early 5-1 lead, but the Tornado scored 5 runs in the 4^thinning and plated the final run of the game to earn a 7-6 win. With the split, the Lions sit at 13-18 on the season, 8-6 in conference action.  

GAME ONE – 
The Tornado jumped out ahead early, scoring 3 runs on 4 hits in the top of the 1^st to take a 3-0 lead. The Lions responded in the bottom of the 1^st to get on the board. Ellee Varner leaded things off with a walk, and Gabby Buffington singled to right field to advance Varner to 3^rd. Buffington advanced to 2^nd on an error and Varner scored to cut the Tornado lead to 3-1. 

The Lions bats got to work in the bottom of the 2^nd inning. Aggie Bennett walked to start things off. Grace Ausborn singled to 3^rd and the runners advanced a base on a balk. Varner followed that up with a single to 3^rdto load the bases and Abby Rocco took advantage with a single to left field to score Bennett, making it 3-2, Tornado. Jaryn Gibson kept things going lacing a double to left field to score Varner and Ausborn, giving the Lions a 4-3 lead. A double from Buffington to center field scored two runs to make it 6-3, Lions. A sacrifice fly scored Buffington to end the inning with the Lions up 7-3. 

The Lions added to their lead in the bottom of the 3^rd. Kelsey Lester started things with a single to right field. Ausborn kept her hit streak going with a single to left and Varner singled to the pitcher to load the bases. A wild pitch advanced the runners, with Lester scoring to give the Lions an 8-3 advantage. Gibson reached on an error to score Ausborn, making it 9-3, Lions and Buffington kept things going with a double to right center to score Varner, giving the Lions a 10-3 lead. 

The Tornado added a run in the top of the 4^th to make it 10-4, but the Lions answered in the bottom half of the inning. Bennett walked to start things off and Lester singled to 3^rd to advance Bennett to 2^nd. Varner lined out to center field to score Bennett to give the Lions an 11-4 lead. 

In the top of the 6^th, King's bats got to work scoring 4 runs on 5 hits and an error to cut the Lions lead to 11-8. 

In the top of the 7^th, the Tornado tied things up scoring 3 runs on 3 hits to make it 11-11. In the bottom half of the inning, the Lions kept at it with Buffington reaching on an error. Passmore walked to put runners on 1^st and 2^nd with runners advancing on a wild pitch. Kelsey Lester walked, and Ausborn hit a walk-off single to left field to score Buffington, giving the Lions the win, 12-11. 

At the plate, Grace Ausborn was 3-3 with 2 runs scored and an RBI. Gabby Buffington was 4-5 at the plate with 2 runs scored and 3 RBI's. 

In the circle, Cassidy Jenkins got the nod, going 5.1 innings. She gave up 8 runs on 14 hits and struck out 4 batters. Reagan Garrett relieved her to throw 1.2 innings. She gave up 3 runs on 4 hits and struck out a batter.

GAME TWO

The Lions got things started in game two with a triple by Ellee Varner in the first inning. Abby Rocco flied out to center to score Varner, giving the Lions a 1-0 lead. 

King tied things up in the 2^nd inning with a run on a hit to make it 1-1. The Lions responded well in the bottom half of the inning. Ciarra Passmore walked to start off the at-bat.
Aggie Bennett singled to center field to keep things going and Grace Ausborn hit a single to left to score Passmore, making it 2-1 Lions. Varner hit a single of her own to left to score Bennett, making it 3-1 Lions. Ausborn scored on a groundout to give the Lions a 4-1 lead and Varner scored on a single by Jaryn Gibson to make it 5-1, Lions.

The Tornado scored 5 runs on 4 hits and 2 errors in the top of the 4^th to take a 6-5 lead. The Lions responded in the bottom half of the inning. Gibson reached on an error and Buffington doubled to left center to score her, tying the game at 6-6.

After a scoreless 5^th inning, the Tornado scored a run on 3 hits in the top of the 6^th to take a 7-6 lead.
 
The Lions would threaten in the bottom of the 6^th, getting 3 runners on base but couldn't bring a run across. 

At the plate, Ellee Varner went 2-5 with 2 runs scored and an RBI, while Aggie Bennett went 2-4 with a run scored. 

In the circle, Carly Forrester went 5.1 innings. She gave up 7 runs (6 earned) on 12 hits and struck out 5 batters.

The Lions will host Lees McRae tomorrow at 2 & 4 PM for Senior Day. For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.