GASTONIA, NC – The Lions were back in action this afternoon against #10 nationally ranked, North Greenville. The two teams kept things competitive early, with the Trailblazers taking a 4-1 lead in the top of the 5^th. The Lions rallied to tie the game at 4, then used a 3-run 8^th inning to earn the 8-5 victory. With the win, the Lions move to 29-24 on the season. 

The Lions jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the 1^st. Jesus Cruz started things off with a double to right field. Landon Mokris followed that up with a single to the pitcher, advancing to 3^rd on a throwing error which scored Cruz, giving the Lions a 1-0 lead. 

In the top of the 2^nd, the Trailblazers scored a run on a hit to tie the game at 1-1. 

In the top of the 3^rd, North Greenville scored a run on 2 hits to take a 2-1 lead. 

The score stayed that way until the top of the 5^th, when the Trailblazers added 2 runs to their lead on 3 hits to make it 4-1, Trailblazers.

The Lions answered in the bottom of the 6^th inning
. 
Mokris started things off with a double to right center and Hayden Beall picked up where he left off yesterday with a 2-run homerun to right center to make it 4-3, Trailblazers. Nick Madrigal kept things going with a double to left center, advancing to 3^rd on a SAC fly. Nick McCoy (pinch runner for Madrigal) scored on a pop up to make it 4-4. 

Noah Cantleberry sat down the Trailblazers in the top of the 7^th, then the Lions went back to work. Brock Wollin gave the Lions the lead with a homerun to left field to make it 5-4, Lions. 

North Greenville tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the 8^th on a hit and an error, but the Lions rallied. Drew Knight was hit by a pitch to start things off, then Dee Oliver reached on a throwing error to score Austin Bourrie (pinch runner for Knight) to give the Lions a 6-5 lead. Dobbs Bowden walked and Ryan Muniz reached on a fielder's choice, with Bowden getting thrown out at 2^nd and Oliver scoring to push the Lions lead to 7-5. Cruz walked, and both runners advanced, with Muniz scoring on a SAC fly by Wollin to make the final score, 8-5 Lions. 

At the plate, Hayden Beall, Landon Mokris and Jesus Cruz each collected 2 hits, with Beall and Brock Wollin going yard. 

On the mound, Noah Cantleberry was dealing. He gave up 5 runs on 7 hits and struck out 5 batters in 7.0 innings of work. Zach Evans shut the door, throwing 2.0 innings and giving up 2 hits, striking out a batter. 

Next, the Lions will move onto the semifinal game tomorrow at 3PM and will face the winner of tonight's night game between Belmont Abbey and Young Harris. For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.