Franklin Springs, GA – The Emmanuel Softball team hosted Lees McRae this afternoon in a doubleheader. Six seniors were honored including,
Aggie Bennett, student manager,
Abigail Curry,
Abby Rocco,
Jaryn Gibson,
Carly Forrester,
Gabby Buffington and
Ellee Varner. The Lions bats were hot in game one, earning the home team a 14-9 win. The Bobcats homered late to earn a 8-7 win in game two. With the split, the Lions now sit at 14-19 overall, 9-7 in conference play.
GAME ONE
Ellee Varner was hit by a pitch to start the first inning and stole 2nd and 3rd.
Abby Rocco and
Jaryn Gibson walked to load the bases.
Gabby Buffington reached on a fielder's choice, with Varner getting thrown out at home on the play. Ciarra Passmore walked in a run to give the Lions a 1-0 lead and
Aggie Bennett singled to right field to score Buffington and Gibson to give the Lions a 3-0 lead.
The Bobcats scored 5 runs on 5 hits in the top of the 2nd to take a 5-3 lead.
In the top of the 3rd, Lees McRae added 2 runs to their lead on 4 hits to make it 7-3.
After a scoreless 4th inning for both teams, Lees McRae added 2 runs to their lead on 4 hits to make it 9-3. In the bottom half of the inning, the Lions got to work. Rocco started things off with a walk. Gibson singled to left field to advance Rocco to 2nd and Buffington reached on an error to score Rocco, making it 9-4, Bobcats.
Vic Epps singled to center to load the bases and Passmore singled to center to score two runs, making it 9-6, Bobcats. Bennett laced a double to left center to keep the inning going, scoring two runs to cut the Bobcats lead to 9-8 and
Kelsey Lester doubled to left field to score Bennett and tie the game at 9. Varner singled to left center to score Lester, giving the Lions a 10-9 lead.
In the bottom of the 6th, the Lions added to their lead. Gibson homered to start the inning to make it 11-9, Lions. Buffington reached on an error by the shortstop, advancing to 3rd on a wild pitch. Epps singled to right field to score Buffington, making it 12-9, Lions. Passmore doubled to right center to advance Epps to third, and Lester kept things going with a single to center to score 2 runs, making it 14-9 which would be the final score.
At the plate,
Kelsey Lester went 2-3 with 3RBI's,
Vic Epps went 2-2 with 2 runs scored and an RBI, and
Aggie Bennett went 2-4 with 4 RBI's.
In the circle,
Cassidy Jenkins got the start going 1.1 innings. She gave up 5 runs on 5 hits and struck out 2 batters.
Reagan Garrett came in next, throwing 3.2 innings. She gave up 4 runs on 9 hits.
Addison Hendrix closed ou the game for the Lions going 2.0 innings and giving up one hit.
GAME TWO
The Lions got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the 1st.
Ellee Varner started off the inning with a double to left field.
Jaryn Gibson laced a double to right center to score Varner, making it 1-0, Lions.
The Lions added to their lead in the bottom of the 2nd. Ciarra Passmore doubled to left field to start the at-bat. She advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball to give the Lions a 2-0 lead.
The Bobcats tied the game up in the top of the 3rd, scoring 2 runs on 1 hit and an error to make it 2-2. The Lions responded in the bottom of the 3rd. Varner singled to left field to start things off. Rocco reached on a fielder's choice, with Varner getting thrown out at 2nd.
Gabby Buffington doubled to left center to score Rocco, making it 3-2, Lions.
In the top of the 4th, the Bobcats retook the lead scoring 4 runs on 6 hits to make it 5-3. The Lions answered in the bottom of the 4th.
Aggie Bennett laced a 2-out single to left field to start things off.
Eliana Cooper singled to center to advance Bennett to 2nd. Varner singled to shortstop to load the bases for
Abby Rocco who singled to right field to score two runs and tie the game at 5-5. Gibson kept things going with a single to right field to score Rocco and Varner, giving the Lions a 7-5 lead.
The score stayed that way until the Bobcats scored 3 runs on 3 hits in the top of the 7th to take an 8-7 lead which would be the final score.
At the plate,
Ellee Varner and
Gabby Buffington were 3-4 and
Jaryn Gibson led the team with 3 RBI's.
In the circle,
Carly Forrester got the start going 6.0 innings. She gave up 8 runs (6 earned) on 12 hits and struck out 2 batters.
Cassidy Jenkins relieved her to pitch an inning, striking out 3 batters.
The Lions will be back in action on Tuesday as they host Georgia College for a doubleheader at 2 & 4PM. For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.
