Jayden Berkin, Sports Reporter
The UNC Pembroke softball team swept the Emmanuel Lions in a doubleheader Sunday afternoon. Both teams battled back and forth throughout the entire game, but it was the Braves who came out on top late in the final inning in walk-off fashion to pick up the 4-3 win.
It all started when Emma Eckhart reached first after being hit by a pitch and scored on a triple to the outfield gap from Kaitlyn King in the bottom of the fourth. Kynley Brewer scored King with a single through the left side to tie the score 3-3.
While both teams would go back and forth over the next two innings, Jai Deese had one goal in mind when she stepped to the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning, to finish the game. That is exactly what she did, walking it off on the second pitch of the at bat with a homer over the left field fence.
The Lions got things going in the top of the second with an RBI single up the middle by Ellee Varner to give Emmanuel the early 1-0 lead. Chloe Locklear responded with an RBI single of her own to tie the game 1-1. Aggie Bennett and Lexi Jordan each had an RBI single for the Lions to push the lead out to 3-1 before the Braves started to chip away heading into the bottom of the fourth.
Katie Neal got the start in the circle for the Braves, going four innings giving up eight hits and three runs while striking out three and walking one. Summer Bullard came in and picked up the win for the Braves going three innings giving up zero hits and zero runs while striking out four and walking two.
For the Lions Macy Kelly got the start in the circle and took the loss going six innings giving up nine hits and four runs while striking out one and walking one.
In the first game of the doubleheader the Braves rallied late and pulled off a comback win with a come from behind 6-3 win. The win helped the Braves pick up their first Conference Carolinas sweep of the season.
Kinsley Sheppard picked up the win for the Braves going all seven innings giving up seven hits and three runs while striking out four and walking three. Maddie Edwards took the loss for the Lions going five and 1/3 innings pitched giving up 11 hits and six runs while striking out five and walking one.
This past Thursday the Braves split with the USC Aiken Pacers taking the first game 2-0 and falling to the Pacers 7-0 in the second game. This past Monday the Braves were swept in a Conference doubleheader falling 3-1 in the first game and 7-5 in the second to Young Harris
The Braves will be back in action on April 2nd when they welcome the Chowan Hawks to town for a Conference Carolinas doubleheader. First pitch slated for 2 p.m. with the second game set for 4:30 p.m