Gastonia, NC – The Emmanuel Baseball team continued play in the Conference Carolinas Championships this morning with a matchup against #1 seed, Francis Marion University. The Patriots took an early 4-0 lead, but the Lions answered with 15 unanswered runs. The Patriots rallied late, but the Lions shut the door to earn a 15-8 victory. With the win, Emmanuel improves to 28-24 on the season. 

Francis Marion got things started with 2 runs on 2 hits in the bottom of the 1^st inning.

The Patriots added 2 runs to their lead in the bottom of the 2^nd to go up 4-0.

The Lions responded well in the top of the 3^rd. It all started with a leadoff walk to Dee Oliver. Dobbs Bowden singled to left to advance Oliver to 2^nd and Jesus Cruz singled to center to load the bases. Oliver scored on a SAC fly to centerfield to cut the Patriots lead to 4-1, and a single by Landon Mokris brought in another run to make it 4-2, Patriots. In the bottom of the 3^rd, freshman pitcher Brayden Pooler entered the game to relieve starter, Lucas Meehan and he quickly sat down the Patriots.

In the top of the 4^th, the Lions bats stayed hot. Zachary Bergstrom singled to right field to start off the at-bat. Drew Knight kept things going with a single to left and Dee Oliver reached on a throwing error to score Bergstrom, cutting the Patriots lead to 4-3. A double from Bowden brought in 2-runs, giving the Lions their first lead of the game at 5-4. Ryan Muniz followed that up by lacing a double to right center to score Bowden, giving the Lions a 6-4 lead. Muniz would score on a groundout to close out the inning with the Lions leading 7-4.

The momentum stayed with Emmanuel in the top of the 5^th. Walks to Drew Knight and Oliver started off the inning and Bowden doubled to left to score Knight, making it 8-4 Lions. 

The score stayed that way until the top of the 7^th when the Lions got back to work. Bergstrom walked to start the inning and Bowden reached on a fielding error, advancing Bergstrom to 3^rd. A steal by Bowden put runners on 2^nd and 3^rd for Muniz, who laced a 2-RBI single up the middle to make it 10-4, Lions. 

The Lions kept things going in the top of the 8^th. Brock Wollin singled to start off the at-bat. Mokris reached on a fielder's choice with Wollin advancing to 2^nd on a fielding error. With runners on 1^st and 2^nd, Hayden Beall took full advantage with a 3-run blast to right field to push the Lions lead to 13-4. 

After another scoreless at-bat for the Patriots, the Lions continued to vibe. Jesus Cruz walked to start off the top of the 9^th and Mokris smashed a 2-run homerun to left to make it 15-4, Lions. 
In the bottom of the 9^th, the Patriots rallied to score 4 runs on 4 hits to cut the Lions lead to 15-8, but Will Sherman came in to relieve Pooler and earned the final out. 

At the plate, Dobbs Bowden went 3-5 and four Lions (Bowden, Hayden Beall, Landon Mokris, Ryan Muniz) collected 3-RBI's with Morkis and Beall going yard (again). 

On the mound, Lucas Meehan got the start going 2.1 innings. He gave up 4 runs (3 earned) on 3 hits. He struck out 2 batters and walked 5. Freshman, Brayden Pooler was the story of the day, going 6.1 innings and striking out 5 Patriots and walking 4. Pooler did not allow a hit until the bottom of the 9^th. Will Sherman came in to close the game, earning the final out and giving up a hit. 

Next, the Lions will face #4 seed, North Greenville tomorrow at 3PM. For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.