MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The Young Harris College baseball team dropped both games of a Saturday doubleheader against the University of Montevallo (2-2) by scores of 14-10 and 5-2. Because this is the inaugural season for the Mountain Lions (0-2) competing as a four-year institution, a number of "firsts" were recorded from today's action that will be added to the record books.
In the first game, shortstop Tommy Ferguson led off the top of the first inning with a single up the middle for the first hit for the young Mountain Lion squad. Approximately ten minutes later, Taylor Topping threw the first pitch and soon followed with the first strikeout of a Falcon a few batters later. In the top of the fifth inning, David Atwood scored the first run for Mountain Lions when Josh Rudnik, who recorded the first run batted in, singled to right-center field. One inning later Adam Moore smacked the team's first double, giving the Mountain Lions their first lead of the 2011 season and their first lead competing as a four-year institution. The Falcons rallied to score seven unanswered runs late in the game to win by a score of 14-10. Moore took the loss in relief for the Mountain Lions. Moore, Rudnik, and Jack Morrow each had productive days at the plate, with two hits and three RBI's apiece in the defeat.
In the nightcap, the Mountain Lions were not able to come back from a Montevallo four-run fifth inning and fell by a score of 5-2. Zach Bricknell stole the first base for the Mountain Lions when he swiped second base milliseconds before Ferguson crossed home for a run, stealing home for the first time. Brice Merritt, who pitched well in relief, was the first pitcher to strikeout the side in order when he punched out three Falcons in a row in the sixth inning. Merritt threw 3.1 innings, allowing no runs on two hits with six strikeouts. Travis Donahoo took the loss, hurling 4.2 innings, giving up five runs (three earned), on three hits with two strikeouts. Ferguson and Atwood led the way at the plate for Young Harris with two hits each. The Mountain Lions will conclude their series with the Falcons tomorrow as they look for their first win of the season, and first as a four-year institution.
For live stats of the game, tune into http://www.montevallofalcons.com/livestats/landing
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