Wilson, NC – The Emmanuel Baseball team traveled to Wilson, NC for a three-game series with Barton College in conference action. The Lions got off to a good start on Saturday with a 2-1 victory in game one and a 2-1 win in game two. Game three was competitive, with the Bulldogs taking an early 2-0 lead, but the Lions scoring 4 runs in the 5^th to take the lead. The two teams battled throughout the middle innings, but a 3-run 8^thinning for the Lions gave Emmanuel the 9-5 victory and the sweep. 
With the series win, the Lions improve to 20-22 on the season, 11-14 in conference action. 

GAME ONE – 
The Lions got on the board first in the top of the 3^rd inning. Ryan Muniz started the at-bat off with a single to right field, stealing 2^nd. Brock Wollin walked to put runners on 1^st and 3^rd and Muniz scored on a SAC fly to give the Lions a 1-0 lead. 

Barton responded in the bottom of the 4^th, scoring a run on 3 hits to tie the game at 1-1. 

Both teams threatened to score again, but the score would remain knotted at 1-1 after 9 innings. 

The Lions would take advantage of extra innings, scoring a run in the top of the 10^th go up 2-1. Jesus Cruz walked to start the inning. Landon Mokris doubled to advance Cruz to 3^rd and after Hayden Beall was intentionally walked, Cruz scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-1, Lions. The Bulldogs couldn't get anything going in the bottom of the 10^th, giving the Lions a 2-1 win. 

At the plate, Hayden Beall was 2-3 with Landon Mokris and Dobbs Bowden each hitting a double. 

On the mound, Will Sherman earned the start going 4.0 innings. He gave up a run on 4 hits and struck out a batter, walking 2. Noah Olson relieved him to pitch 4.2 innings. He gave up a hit, striking out 2 batters and walking 1. Jamin Smith came in next to face a batter, striking him out. Hunter Parks earned the save, throwing an inning and striking out a batter. 

GAME TWO –
The Lions jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the 2^nd. Nick Madrigal was hit by a pitch to start off the at-bat. Dee Oliver laced a double down the left field line to move Madrigal to 3^rd and Dobbs Bowden grounded out to score a run, giving the Lions a 1-0 lead. Barton tied the game up at 1-1 in the bottom half of the inning scoring a run on 2 hits.  

In the top of the 3^rd, the Lions struck back. Jesus Cruz walked to start things off and Brock Wollin doubled down the left field line to advance Cruz to 3^rd. Hayden Beall lined out to centerfield to score Cruz, making it 2-1, Lions. 

The Bulldogs would threaten to score in the bottom of the 4^th, but the Lions would get out of the inning. 

The Lions would hold on to win the game 2-1. 

At the plate, Dee Oliver and Brock Wollin each hit a double.

On the mound, Hunter Pirkle got the start. He went 6.0 innings, giving up a run on 6 hits. He struck out 1 batter and walked 2. Zach Evans earned the save, going 1.0 inning and striking out a batter. 

 GAME THREE
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the in bottom of the 3rd, scoring 2 runs on 3 hits. 

The Lions answered back in the top of the 5^th inning. Dee Oliver singled to start the inning. Dobbs Bowden followed that up with a double to left field to advance Oliver to 3^rd and Ryan Muniz laced a double down the left field line to score both runs, tying the game at 2-2. Jesus Cruz reached on a fielding error, with Muniz advancing to 3^rd and a double by Brock Wollin down the left field line scored Muniz and Cruz, giving the Lions a 4-2 lead. The Bulldogs responded with a run on 2 hits and an error in the bottom half of the inning to make it 4-3, Lions heading to the 6^th.

Nick Madrigal was hit by a pitch to start off the 6^th, and Tyler Bradford kept the hit streak going with a double to left field to advance Austin Bourrie (pinch runner) to 3^rd. Bowden hit another double to left center to score two runs, giving the Lions a 6-3 lead. 

In the bottom of the 7^th, the Bulldogs scored 2 runs on 2 hits to cut the Lions lead to 6-5. 

The Lions picked up where they left off in the top of the 8^th. Zachary Bergstrom walked to start things off, and Bowden singled to left field for his third hit of the game. Muniz singled to 3^rd to load the bases and Cruz doubled to right field to score two runs, making it 8-5, Lions. Muniz scored on a wild pitch to put the Lions up 9-5. After Wollin was hit by a pitch he stole 2^nd. Cruz scored on a SAC Fly to make it 10-5, Lions and Wollin scored on a wild pitch to push the Lions lead to 11-5. The Bulldogs responded with 2 runs on 3 hits and an error in the bottom of the 8^th to make it 11-7, Lions which would be the final score.

At the plate, Dobbs Bowden was 3-5 with 2 RBI's and 2 runs scored. 

On the mound, Lucas Meehan got the start going 6.0 innings. He gave up 4 runs (3 earned) on 6 hits and struck out 4 batters. JJ Neal relieved him to face 3 batters. He gave up a run on a hit. Hunter Maddox was next on the mound, going 1.2 innings. He gave up 2 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits and struck out a batter. Zach Evans closed out the game, throwing 1.0 inning and striking out a batter.

Next up, the Lions will travel to Dahlonega, GA on Tuesday to face University of North Georgia at 5PM. For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.