Belmont, NC – The Emmanuel Baseball team traveled to Belmont, NC to face Belmont Abbey College in their first conference series of the season. The Lions got off to a strong start in game one, taking a 5-1 lead early but the Crusaders scored 5 runs in the 7^th and 8^th inning to earn the 12-8 victory. The Crusaders carried their momentum into day two, earning a 13-4 win in game two and closing out the series with a 7-3 win in game three. With the sweep, the Lions fall to 1-5 on the season. 

GAME ONE –
After a scoreless first inning, the Lions got on the board early in the 2^nd. Reece Kingeter started things off with a double down the left field line. Davis Roesler reached on a throwing error to advance Kingeter to 3^rd. Alex Espinoza followed that up with a single to left center to score Kingeter and Roesler to make it 2-0, Lions. Haidyn McGill kept things going with a single through the left side, then Jaden Madrid singled to load the bases. A wild pitch scored Espinoza to make it 3-0, Lions. 

After a scoreless 3^rd inning, the Lions got back to work in the 4^th. Espinoza got on base with a walk to start things off then McGill singled to first base to advance Espinoza to 2^nd. A groundout from Madrid advanced runners and a single from Dee Oliver to left field scored both runs, pushing the Lions lead to 5-0. The Crusaders scored a run on 3 hits in the bottom half of the inning to cut the Lions lead to 5-1. 

In the bottom of the 5^th, the Crusaders tacked on another run, cutting the Lions lead to 5-2. 

After a scoreless 6^th, the Crusaders scored 5 runs on 6 hits in the bottom of the 7^th to take a 7-5 lead.

The Lions got a run back in the top of the 8^th. Chaz Encarnacion walked to start the at bat, advancing to 2^nd on a wild pitch. After McGill walked, Madrid reached on a fielder's choice and runners advanced on a throwing error with Encarnacion scoring to cut the Crusaders lead to 7-6. The Crusaders answered back in the bottom of the 8^th, scoring 5 runs on 2 hits and an error to make it 12-6. 

The Lions answered in the top of the 9^th. Nick Madrigal singled to start the inning and Kingeter homered to make the final score 12-8, Crusaders.

At the plate, Reece Kingeter went 2-4 with a double and a homerun, with 2 RBIs. Haidyn McGill went 2-2 on the afternoon. 

On the mound, Hunter Pirkle got the nod going 6.0 innings. He gave up 3 runs on 6 hits and struck out 6 batters. Jacob Bodkin relieved him to face 5 batters, giving up 4 runs on 5 hits. Zach Easton was next on the mound, facing 2 batters walking one and striking out the other. Chase Lupton relieved him to throw 0.2 innings. He gave up 4 runs on a hit and struck out a batter, walking another. Hunter Maddox closed out the game, giving up a run and a hit, walking 2 batters. 

The two teams will play a doubleheader tomorrow at 12 & 3PM. 

GAME TWO
The Crusaders got on the board first in game two with 3 runs scored on 3 hits and an error in the bottom of the 1^st to take a 3-0 lead. 

Belmont Abbey tacked on two runs in the bottom of the 2^nd on 3 hits to make it 5-0. 

After a scoreless 3^rd and 4^th inning, the Crusaders kept swinging in the bottom of the 5^th scoring 3 runs on 4 hits to push their lead to 8-0. 

In the bottom of the 6^th, Belmont Abbey added 4 runs on 3 hits and an error to make the score 13-0. 

The Lions got on the board in the top of the 7^th. Aiden Malish singled to start off the innings and Stephen Clark followed that up with a single up the middle. Matt Layton walked to load the bases and Parker Westbrook hit a sac fly to score Malish, making it 13-1 Belmont Abbey. Jaden Madrid walked to keep the bases juiced, and Conor Golterman got hit by a pitch to score Clark, making it 13-2, Crusaders. Aidan Feather kept things going with a single to score Layton and Nick Madrigal singled to left field to score Golterman, making the final score 13-4, Crusaders. 

At the plate, Jaden Madrid and Aidan Feather went 2-3, with Feather, Madrigal, Golterman and Layton picking up RBIs. 

On the mound, Ethan Pooler took the loss throwing 2.0 innings and giving up 5 runs on 7 hits and 2 errors. He walked 2 batters and struck out one. Miles Dodd relieved him to throw 3 innings, giving up 4 runs on 6 hits. Joseph Rice came in next, facing 6 batters. He gave up 4 runs on 2 hits and walked 3 batters. Lucas Meehan closed out the game facing the final batter.

GAME THREE
After a scoreless first inning, the Crusaders struck first in game three, scoring a run on a hit in the bottom of the 2^nd. 

The Lions took the lead in the top of the 3^rd. Alex Espinoza started things off with a double to left field. Haidyn McGill followed that up with a walk, and the runners advanced on a wild pitch. Jaden Madrid walked to load the bases and Dee Oliver singled to left to score McGill and Madrid, making the score 2-1 Lions. 

The Crusaders tied things up in the bottom of the 4^th, scoring a run on 2 hits to make it 2-2. 

Belmont Abbey retook the lead in the bottom of the 5^th, scoring 2 runs on a hit to take a 4-2 lead.

The Lions answered back in the top of the 6^th. Madrid walked to start things off, and Aidan Feather doubled to center field to score him, cutting the Crusaders lead to 4-3. 

The score stayed the same until the bottom of the 7^th when the Crusaders tacked on 2 runs on 2 hits and an error to take a 6-3 lead.

In the bottom of the 8^th, the Crusaders added a run on 3 hits to make the final score, 7-3. 

At the plate, Dee Oliver went 2-4 with 2 RBIs, while Alex Espinoza went 2-4 with a double.

On the mound, Brayden Pooler got the start going 4.2 innings. He gave up 4 runs on 5 hits, striking out 6 batters and walking 5. Luke Hopper relieved him to throw 2.0 innings. He gave up 2 runs on 3 hits, striking out 2 batters. Matthew Delarber came in next to face two batters. Zach Evans closed out the game, throwing an inning and giving up a run on 3 hits, striking out a batter.

The Lions will be back in action on Wednesday as they host Georgia College & State University at Tommy Carey Field at 3PM. 

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