Franklin Springs, GA – The Emmanuel Softball team hosted Shorter this afternoon in their final home series of the regular season. The Hawks got off to a strong start, taking game one, 12-5 but the Lions roared back to earn a 4-1 victory in game 2 to split the series. With the split, the Lions now sit at 18-25 on the season, 11-11 in conference action. 

GAME ONE

The Hawks got on the board first with 3 runs on 3 hits in the top of the 1^st. The Lions responded well with a solid at-bat in the bottom of the 1^st. Ellee Varner reached on an error to start things off. Abby Rocco kept things going with a single to left field to advance Varner to 2^nd. Gabby Buffington flied out to right field to advance Varner to 3^rd and Vic Epps cleared the bases with a homerun to left center to tie the game at 3-3. 

In the top of the 4^th, the Hawks retook the lead scoring 4 runs on 5 hits to take a 7-3 lead. The Lions answered back with a run in the bottom half of the inning. Grace Ausbon started things off with a single and advanced to 3^rd on an error. Abby Rocco singled to right field to score Ausborn, making it 7-4, Hawks. 

The Hawks scored 4 runs on 4 hits in the top of the 6^th to push their lead to 11-4.

In the top of the 7^th, the Hawks added a run on 2 hits to make it 12-4. A homerun by Gabby Buffington in the bottom half of the inning made the final score, 12-5. 
At the plate, Ciara Passmore went 2-3 while Vic Epps and Gabby Buffington homered.

In the circle, Cassidy Jenkins got the start going 3.2 innings. She gave up 7 runs on 10 hits striking out 3 batters and walking 2. Addison Hendrix faced 6 batters in 1.1 innings of work and gave up a run on a hit. Reagan Garrett closed out the game, throwing 2.0 innings and giving up 4 runs (3 earned) on 5 hits. 

GAME TWO 
The Lions jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 2^nd. Vic Epps started things off with a single to right field. Ciara Passmore kept things going with a single to left field to advance Epps to 2^nd. Eliana Cooper reached on a fielder's choice, with Passmore getting thrown out at 3^rd and Epps scoring on the play to give the Lions a 1-0 lead. 

In the bottom of the 3^rd, the Lions added to their lead. Abby Rocco doubled to start the at-bat, stealing 3^rd. Jaryn Gibson was hit by a pitch to put runners on 1^st and 3^rd. Gabby Buffington singled to load the bases, scoring Rocco to give the Lions a 2-0 lead. 

In the top of the 4^th, the Hawks got on the board with a run on a hit and an error to make it 2-1, Lions. 

In the bottom of the 4^th the Lions added to their lead. Cooper struck out, reaching on a passed ball. Ausborn singled to advance Cooper to 2^nd, with the runners advancing on a SAC bunt.  Rocco singled to center field to score 2 runs, making the score 4-1, Lions. 

Shorter threatened with 2 hits in the top of the 6^th, but the Lions held on to win game two, 4-1. 

At the plate, Abby Rocco was 2-4 with 2 RBI's while Ciara Passmore and Grace Ausborn were 2-3.
 
In the circle, Carly Forrester got the nod. She went 7.0 innings and gave up 1 run on 6 hits. She struck out 3 batters and walked 2. 

The Lions will be back in action tomorrow as they travel to Due West, SC to take on Erskine in a conference doubleheader at 1 & 3PM. For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.