Franklin Springs, GA – The Emmanuel Baseball team welcomed the Augusta University Jaguars to Tommy Carey Field this evening for a regional match-up. Pregame, the Franklin County Little League Lions took the field for a memorable moment on Little League Night. The Jaguars took the early lead, but the Lions answered to score 2 runs in the 2^nd to go up 3-2. The Jaguars tied the game at 4-4 late, but the Lions responded well, scoring a run in the bottom of the 6^th to earn the 5-4 win!

Brayden Pooler earned the start for the Lions. He gave up 2 runs on 2 hits in the top of the 1^st but limited the damage by ending the at-bat with a strikeout to make it 2-0, Augusta. The Lions responded well in the bottom of the 1^st. Chaz Encarnacion opened up the at-bat with a single to shortstop. Davis Roesler followed that up with a double to left to score him, cutting the Jaguars lead to 2-1. 

The Jaguars picked up 2 hits in the top of the 2^nd, but back-to-back groundouts ended the at-bat to keep the score, 2-1. The Lions bats got hot in the bottom half of the inning. Andrew Wilson led things off with a single and Encarnacion singled to center to score Wilson, tying the game at 2-2. Roesler laced a double to left field to put the Lions up, 3-2. 

Blake Altschuler relieved Pooler in the top of the 3^rd and sat down the side to keep the Lions up, 3-2. The Lions picked up a single from Conor Goltermann in the bottom of the 3^rd to put a runner in scoring position, but a strikeout ended the at bat. 

Altschuler sat the Jaguars down in order in the top of the 4^th. In the bottom half of the inning, the Lions added to their lead. After a walk to Hunter Shiver, Shiver advanced to 3^rd on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly to give the Lions a 4-2 lead. 

In the top of the 5^th, the Jaguars got something going loading the bases with three straight singles. A walk scored a run to cut the Lions lead to 4-3, but Miles Dodd relieved Altschuler and forced the final batter into a ground-out to limit the damage. 

In the top of the 6^th, the Jaguars tied the game at 4-4 on a double that scored a run. Lucas Meehan relieved Dodd and closed out the at-bat with a groundout. The Lions answered quickly, taking the lead in the bottom of the 6^th. Dee Oliver singled to start off the at-bat and stole 2^nd. A line-out scored Oliver to give the Lions the 5-4 lead.

Matthew Delabar pitched the 7^th inning for the Lions, giving up a single by striking out a batter to end the at-bat. 

In the 8^th, Chase Lupton relieved Delabar and gave up a hit by pitch and a walk but Ethan Pooler relieved him to sit down the final three batters to end the threat.  The Lions got a runner on 3^rd in the bottom half of the inning, but he was caught stealing home to end the at-bat. 

Pooler continued to work in the 9^th to sit down the side, striking out two batters to give the Lions the win, 5-4.

At the plate, Chaz Encarnacion led the way with 3 hits on the night. He collected 2 RBIs and scored 2 runs. Davis Roesler went 2-4 on the night, with 2 RBIs, while Aiden Malish picked up 2 hits in 3 at-bats.

On the mound, the Lions staff combined for 9 strikeouts, giving up 4 runs on 10 hits. Ethan Pooler and Blake Altschuler struck out 3 batters each. 

Next up, the Lions will travel to Young Harris, GA to face the Mountain Lions for a three-game series beginning on Friday at 6PM. 

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