Franklin Springs, GA – The Emmanuel Baseball team closed out the regular season with a 3-game series against #7 nationally ranked, Young Harris. The Mountain Lions jumped out to an early lead in game one and scored seven runs late to earn a 15-3 win. Young Harris earned the game two win in extra innings, 7-4 but the Lions responded well to earn a 5-3 victory in game 3. 
With the series loss, the Lions fall to 26-24 on the season, 14-16 in conference action. 
GAME ONE – 
The Mountain Lions got on the board first in game one with 3 runs scored on 3 hits in the top of the 1^st to take a 3-0 lead. The Lions threatened with two hits in the bottom half of the inning but couldn't bring a run across. 

After a scoreless 2^nd inning, Young Harris added a run to their lead on a hit and 2 errors in the top of the 3^rd to make it 4-0. The Lions responded well in the bottom of the 3^rd. Ryan Muniz started things off reaching on an error, but he got picked off trying to steal 2^nd. Jesus Cruz walked to keep things going and a single by Brock Wollin advanced Cruz to 2^nd. A single to right field by Landon Mokris scored Cruz to cut the Mountain Lions lead to 4-1. 

The Mountain Lions loaded the bases in the top of the 4^th, but the Lions got out of the inning with two key outs by Lucas Meehan. 

Onto the 5^th, the Mountain Lions scored a run on a hit and an error to take a 5-1 lead. 

In the 6^th inning, Young Harris grabbed full control of the game, scoring 3 runs on 4 hits to make it 8-1. 

In the top of the 7^th, the visiting Mountain Lions added 4 runs on 4 hits and an error to make it 12-1. 

The Mountain Lions added 3 runs to their lead on a hit to take a 15-1 lead. The Lions answered back in the bottom half of the inning. K. Belich drew a 2-out walk to start things off for the Lions and then Nick Finkbiner was hit by a pitch to put two runners on base. Austin Bourrie kept things going with a walk to load the bases and Aiden Malish brought in a run getting hit by a pitch to make it 15-2, Young Harris. A single by Nick McCoy brought in a run to make it 15-3 which would be the final score. 

At the plate, Landon Mokris went 2-2 with an RBI. 

On the mound, Hunter Pirkle got the start going 2.2 innings. He gave up 4 runs (3 earned) on 5 hits. He struck out a batter and walked one. Lucas Meehan came in next, going 3.0 innings. He gave up 4 runs (3 earned) on 4 hits. He walked 2 batters. Noah Olson faced 6 batters giving up 4 runs (3 earned) on 4 hits. Kody Collins relieved him to pitch 1.1 inning. He gave up 3 runs on 2 hits and struck out a batter, walking 1. JJ Neal came in to face 3 batters, giving up a walk. Jake Renuart closed out the game for the Lions pitching an inning and striking out 3 batters. 

GAME TWO 

The Lions got things started early in game 2. Jesus Cruz singled to start off the at-bat in the bottom of the 1^st.  Brock Wollin singled to shortstop to advance Cruz to 2^nd base. Landon Mokris kept things going for the Lions with a double down the left field line to score Cruz and Wollin, giving the Lions a 2-0 lead.   

The Mountain Lions responded in the top of the 2^nd with a run on a hit to make it 2-1, Lions. 

In the top of the 3^rd, Young Harris tied things up at 2-2 on 2 hits and an error. Hayden Beall responded with a solo homer in the bottom half of the inning to make it 3-2, Lions. 

The score remained that way until the top of the 5^th when the Mountain Lions took their first lead of the day, scoring 2 runs on a hit to make it 4-3, Young Harris. In the bottom half of the inning, the Lions responded well. Nick Madrigal singled to start off the at-bat. Dee Oliver singled to first base to advance Nick McCoy (pinch runner for Madrigal) to 3^rd. Dobbs Bowden reached on a fielder's choice to score McCoy, tying the game at 4-4. 

The score stayed that way through 9 innings, forcing extra baseball. 

Young Harris took the lead in the top of the 10^th, scoring 3 runs on 2 hits to make it 7-4 which would be the final score.

At the plate, Dee Oliver was 2-2. 

On the mound, Noah Cantleberry got the start going 5.0 innings. He gave up 4 runs on 5 hits and struck out 4 batters. Zach Evans came in next, pitching 2.1 innings walking a batter. Hunter Parks came in next, throwing 1.2 innings and striking out a batter. Bubba Luke earned the loss, facing 3 batters and giving up 3 runs on a hit. Gavin Richardson closed out the game for the Lions giving up a hit.  
 
GAME THREE
The third game of the series started out as a pitcher's duel, with the teams knotted at 0-0 until the bottom of the 6^th inning. 

The Lions got on the board first. Landon Mokris singled to left field to start off the at-bat. Hayden Beall walked to move Mokris to 2^nd and Drew Knight reached on an error to load the bases. Nick Madrigal reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Ferguson (pinch runner for Mokris) to give the Lions a 1-0 lead. Dobbs Bowden cleared the bases with a grand slam to give the Lions a 5-0 lead. 

In the top of the 7^th, the Mountain Lions responded, scoring 3 runs on 2 hits and an error to cut the Lions lead to 5-3 which would be the final score. 

At the plate, five Lions collected a hit with Dobbs Bowden going 1-3 with a grand slam to pick up 4 RBI's. 

On the mound, Will Sherman got the start going 6.0 innings strong and giving up 2 hits. Barrett Barkley came in to face a batter and Zack Gibbons relieved him to face 3 batters, giving up 2 runs on a hit. Noah Olson relieved him to face a batter, giving up a run on a hit and Hunter Maddox closed out the game facing one batter, earning a strikeout. 

Next up, the Lions will compete in the Conference Carolinas Baseball Championships which will take place Wednesday, April 30-Monday, May 5 at CaroMount Health Park (Sims Legion Park) in Gastonia, NC. 

For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.