Franklin Springs, GA – The Emmanuel Baseball team hosted the Barton College Bulldogs over the weekend. The Lions took the first game with 2 runs in the 8^th inning to win it, 4-3. The Lions followed that up with a 12-6 victory in game two but fell in the series finale 7-5 to earn the series win, 2-1. With the series win, the Lions improve to 4-6 on the season, 2-4 in conference play. 

GAME ONE -   

Barton got on the board first in game one, scoring 2 runs on a hit and an error in the top of the first to take a 2-0 lead. The Lions responded in the bottom half of the inning. Aidan Feather picked up where he left off against Georgia College with a single to start things off. Reece Kingeter laced a double to right field to put runners on 2^nd and 3^rd, and Nick Madrigal brought a run home with a single to third to cut the Bulldog's lead to 2-1. 

After a scoreless 2^nd inning, Barton added a run to their lead on a hit and an error to make it 3-1, but the Lions had an answer. Dee Oliver doubled to start the at bat and a single by Feather put runners on 1^st and 2^nd with no outs. Oliver scored on a sacrifice fly to cut the Bulldog's lead to 3-2. 

The score remained the same until the 8^th inning. After Alex Espinoza got hit by a pitch, the Lions bats got hot. Haidyn McGill singled to left center and both runners stole a base to put the Lions in scoring position. A double from Oliver scored 2 runs, giving the Lions the 4-3 lead which would be the final score.

Dee Oliver led the Lions going 2-5 on the night with 2 doubles and 2RBIs. Nick Madrigal and Alex Espinoza each went 2-3 at the plate.

On the mound, Hunter Pirkle got the start, going 7.0 innings. He gave up 3 runs on 5 hits and struck out 5 batters. Chase Lupton relieved him to earn the win, going 1.0 innings and striking out 2 batters. Zach Evans earned the save for the Lions, throwing an inning and striking out a batter. 

GAME TWO

The Lions picked up where they left off in game one, getting on the board early. In the bottom of the first, Jaden Madrid started things off with a single to first base. Aidan Feather reached on a fielder's choice, getting thrown out but Madrid advanced to 2^nd. Reece Kingeter kept things going with a single to right center to score Madrid, giving the Lions a 1-0 lead. A single to left center by Nick Madrigal advanced the runner, and Tyler Bradford was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A walk to Davis Roesler scored a run to make it 2-0, Lions after the first.

The Bulldogs got a run back in the top of the 2^nd on 2 hits to make it 2-1, Lions.

In the top of the 4^th, Barton took a 4-2 lead, scoring 3 runs on 3 hits. 

In the top of the 5^th, Barton added 2 runs to their lead on 3 hits, making the score 6-2, Bulldogs. The Lions answered in the bottom half of the inning. Dee Oliver reached on an error by the shortstop, and Aidan Feather reached on an error to advance Oliver to 2^nd. Madrigal followed that up with a double to left field to score Oliver, cutting the Bulldogs lead to 6-3. A single from Roesler scored Feather and Madrigal to put the Lions within a run of the lead, 6-5. Alex Espinoza reached on an error to score Bradford, tying the game at 6-6. 

In the bottom of the 6^th, the Lions bats got hot. Oliver was hit by a pitch to start things off, then a double from Feather to right center gave the Lions a 7-6 lead. Alex Calabro was hit by a pitch, advancing to 2^nd and a single to left center by Madrigal scored two runs, making it 9-6 Lions. Tyler Bradford walked to put runners on 2^nd and 3^rd.  A single by Espinoza scored two runs, pushing the Lions lead to 11-6. Haidyn McGill singled to the pitcher, advancing Espinoza to 2^nd and Madrid walked to load the bases. A run scored on an error to make it 12-6, which would be the final score. 

At the plate, Nick Madrigal went 3-4 with 3 RBIs and a run scored.

On the mound, Ethan Pooler threw 4.0 innings giving up 6 runs on 9 hits. He struck out 4 batters. Luke Hopper closed out the game, throwing 3.0 innings and giving up 2 hits, striking out 2 batters.

GAME THREE  
The Lions got on the board first in game three, scoring 3 runs in the bottom of the 2^nd inning. Reece Kingeter homered to start off the at-bat, giving the Lions the 1-0 lead. Nick Madrigal singled to left field and Tyler Bradford reached on an error, advancing Madrigal to 2^nd, A single from Davis Roesler scored Madrigal, making it 2-0, Lions and Alex Esponiza reached on an error, scoring a run to push the Emmanuel lead to 3-0.

The Lions added a run to their lead in the bottom of the 3^rd. Kingeter singled to start the inning and Bradford singled to advance Kingeter to 2^nd. A walk to Roesler loaded the bases and a walk to Espinoza scored a run, pushing the Lions lead to 4-0. 

The Bulldogs got on the board in the top of the 5^th inning, scoring 2 runs on a hit and two errors to cut the Lions lead to 4-2. 

In the top of the 6^th, Barton tied the game at 4-4, scoring 2 runs on 3 hits. The Lions retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning on a homerun from Conor Golterman. 

In the top of the 7^th, the Bulldogs tied the game up at 5-5, scoring a run on a hit. The Lions picked up a run in the bottom half of the inning but couldn't get the run across. 

In the bottom of the 8^th, the Lions loaded the bases, but couldn't get anything out of it. 

In the top of the 9^th, the Bulldogs scored 2 runs on 2 hits to earn the 7-5 win.

At the plate, Reece Kingeter went 3-5 with 2 runs scored and an RBI. Conor Golterman hit a solo homerun in the game.

On the mound, Brayden Pooler gave up 2 runs on 3 hits in 4.2 innings. He struck out 8 batters and walked one. Matthew Delarber relieved him to throw an inning. He gave up 2 runs on 3 hits. Zachary Easton followed to throw 2.0 innings, giving up a run on 2 hits, striking out a batter. Zach Evans closed the game for the Lions, giving up 2 runs on 2 hits and striking out a batter to earn the loss.

The Lions will be back in action on Tuesday as the host the Anderson University Trojans in regional action. First pitch is set for 4PM. 

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