Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Belmont, NC – The Emmanuel Softball Lions traveled to Belmont, NC to close out the regular season with a conference doubleheader against Belmont Abbey College. The Crusaders took the lead with a run in the 3^rd, but the Lions responded well to take the 2-1 lead in the top of the 4^th. The Crusaders closed game one strong scoring five runs in the final two innings to earn the win, 6-2. The Crusaders carried the momentum into game two, earning a 7-0 win.

GAME ONE
The Lions threatened early in the 1^st, with Kelsey Lester reaching 1^st on an error and Carson Stowe earning a walk, but a pop up ended the at-bat. Autumn Matherly started strong in the circle, sitting the Crusaders down in order to keep the score tied at 0-0 to end the inning.

Matherly gave up a hit in the bottom of the 2^nd but sat down the final two batters to keep the score knotted at 0-0.

In the bottom of the 3^rd, the Crusaders got on the board, scoring a run on a hit to take the 1-0 lead. 

The Lions responded well in the top of the 4^th. Lester started things off with a solo homerun to left field to tie the game at 1-1. Stowe followed that up with a single to right center and Lenox Roberts came in to pinch run. Roberts advanced to 2^nd on a groundout and moved to 3^rd on a single by Vic Epps. Shelby Rinefierd doubled to score Roberts, giving the Lions a 2-1 lead but Vic Epps was thrown out at home to end the inning. In the bottom of the 4^th, Matherly sat the Crusaders down in order.
In the bottom of the 5^th, Belmont Abbey tied the game at 2-2, scoring a run on a hit.

The Crusaders tacked on 4 runs on 3 hits in the top of the 6^th to take the 6-2 lead, which would be the final score.

At the plate, four Lions picked up a hit.

In the circle, Autumn Matherly threw 5.0 innings, giving up 6 runs on 5 hits. She struck out 4 batters and walked 5. Addison Hendrix relieved her to throw an inning, giving up a hit. 

GAME TWO

The Crusaders carried their momentum into game two, taking an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1^st. 

In the top of the 2^nd, the Lions threatened, picking up 2 hits from Carson Stowe and Eliana Cooper but a groundout ended the at-bat with no runs scoring. 

The Crusaders added to their lead in the bottom of the 3^rd, scoring 4 runs on 4 hits and an error to make it 5-0. 

In the top of the 5^th, the Lions threatened, with two runners getting on board, but a pop up ended the at-bat. The Crusaders added a run on a hit in the bottom of the 5^th to go up 6-0. 

In the bottom of the 6^th, the Crusaders scored a run on a hit to make the final score 7-0.

At the plate, three Lions picked up a hit.

In the circle, Reagan Beagle threw 2.2 innings, giving up 5 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits. She struck out a batter and walked 2. Quinn Overby relieved her to pitch 3.1 innings. She gave up 2 runs on 3 hits, striking out 2 batters and walking one.

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