YOUNG HARRIS – David Atwood and Adam Moore each went 3-for-3 and Jack Morrow belted a three-run home run as the Young Harris College baseball team took the season series over Reinhardt University, 11-9, on Wednesday night at Zell B. Miller.
Young Harris (23-20) picked up where it left off from Tuesday’s game at Reinhardt by scoring in the first inning as Tommy Ferguson singled through the left side to begin the inning. With one out, Atwood had a base hit to right as Ferguson took third. Josh Rudnik flied out to right for the sacrifice as Ferguson scored to give the Mountain Lions a 1-0 lead.
YHC, which has scored at least one run in 17 of the 24 innings in the past three games, continued to slowly extend the advantage with a run in the second as Morrow, who went 3-for-4, led off the frame with a base hit through the left side and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Zach Bricknell. With two outs, Moore singled to left, plating Morrow for the 2-0 advantage.
Reinhardt (15-23-1) took advantage of an error in the third inning by scoring four runs on three hits to grab a 4-2 lead.
The Mountain Lions answered in the bottom of the frame with a pair of runs as Atwood doubled to the gap in left center with one out. Carr drilled a triple to center with two down to score Atwood. Morrow reached on an error, as Carr scored, tying the game at 4.
The Eagles got a three-run blast by Don DiPetta to break the 4-all tie and give Reinhardt a 7-4 lead.
Back came the Mountain Lions in the bottom of the fifth as Atwood drew a lead-off walk and stole second. With one out, Atwood advanced to third on a balk and Evan Carr walked. Both scored on Morrow’s towering three-run shot to left center, tying the game at 7. Bricknell followed with a double to right and took third on a wild pitch. Mike Medori drove in Bricknell with a sacrifice fly to center, giving Young Harris am 8-7 advantage.
Young Harris added a run in the sixth as Atwood walked and took second on a wild pitch. Rudnik singled to right center and advanced to second on the play as Atwood scored.
The Mountain Lions extended the lead to 10-7 with a run in the seventh as Bricknell led off the inning with a base hit to center and took second on a sacrifice bunt by Medori. Bricknell, who went 2-for-3, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Moore.
Young Harris increased the lead to 11-7 with a run in the eighth as Atwood drilled a double to the gap in left center with one out. Atwood took third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Rudnik.
The Eagles tried to rally in the ninth by scoring a pair of runs, but it wasn’t enough as the Mountain Lions take three-of-four from Reinhardt to win the series.
Travis Donahoo started on the hill for the Mountain Lions, going four innings. He gave up seven runs (three earned) on five hits with a walk and a strikeout. Oliver Pratt (3-1) picked up the win in four innings of relief. Brice Merritt and Tyler Isbell (who earned his fourth save) also pitched in relief.
Taylor Smith (1-3) worked 4.2 innings for the Eagles, as he surrendered eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits with a pair of walks. Kendrick McDonald and Jeff Roberts pitched in relief.
Young Harris opens a three-game series 2:30 p.m., Friday, April 15 at Zell B. Miller Field against Atlanta Christian. Go to http://yhcathletics.athleticsite.net/livestats/bb/xlive.htm for Live Stats.
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