YOUNG HARRIS – The Young Harris College baseball team split a twinbill on Saturday with North Greenville University, dropping the opener, 14-10, but getting the victory in the second game, 3-1, at Zell B. Miller Field.
In the first game, the Crusaders (23-10) scored a run in the top of the first inning to grab a 1-0 lead.
Young Harris (18-18) rallied in the bottom of the third by scoring three runs on three hits.
Mike Medori, who went 1-for-4, singled through the left side to begin the frame, but was out at second when Zach Bricknell reached on a fielder’s choice. After a ground out by Tommy Ferguson moved Bricknell to second, David Atwood, who was 2-for-4, followed with a bloop single to score Bricknell, tying the game at 1. Josh Rudnik homered to left to break the tie and give the Mountain Lions a 3-1 advantage.
Back came North Greenville in the fourth with four runs to grab a 5-3 lead.
Young Harris answered in the bottom of the inning as Ryan LaRose, who went 2-for-3, singled through the left side with two outs and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Medori reached on an error as LaRose took third on the play. Bricknell followed with a base hit through the right side, plating LaRose and Ferguson, who was 2-for-4, singled to left, scoring Medori, tying the game at 5.
The Crusaders broke the 5-5 tie in the seventh with four runs on five hits to take a 9-5 advantage.
Despite the huge deficit, the Mountain Lions rallied in the bottom of the frame as Atwood led off the inning with a double to right center and with one out, Evan Carr singled to right as Atwood took third. Jack Morrow followed with a base hit to right center, brining in Atwood as Carr took third. After a pitching change, Rogers, who went 2-for-5, singled to center to score Carr. LaRose followed with a base hit to right center as Morrow scored from second and Rogers went to third. Medori drew a walk to load the bases. Bricknell, who was 3-for-5, reached on a fielder’s choice as Rogers was out at home. With a 3-2 count, Ferguson, who fouled off several pitches, singled through the left side to score Blake Fortune, running for LaRose, and Medori to give Young Harris a 10-9 lead.
North Greenville loaded the bases in the eighth and took advantage of a costly error with two outs by scoring five runs on a pair of hits to take a 14-10 advantage.
Rudnik worked six innings and figured in the no decision as he surrendered eight runs (four earned) on four hits with six strikeouts and four walks. Oliver Pratt (2-1), Adam Moore and Taylor Topping pitched in relief.
Drew Povence started for the Crusaders, going 6.1 innings. He gave up eight runs (six earned) on 12 hits, while fanning five and walking one. Caleb Phillips and Nate Richards (3-2) worked in relief.
In the second game, Bricknell ripped a 2-1 pitch over the left field wall to give Young Harris a 1-0 lead.
North Greenville got a run in the top of the third to tie the game at 1.
The Mountain Lions broke the 1-all tie in the bottom of the fourth as Rogers, who went 2-for-3, doubled down the line in left with two outs and came in to score when Zeke Gribble singled up the middle. Bowen Klosinski reached on a two-base error to plate Gribble, giving Young Harris a 3-1 advantage.
Tyler Isbell started for the Mountain Lions, going 3.2 innings. He surrendered a run on three hits with four strikeouts and three walks. Brice Merritt (2-4) earned the win in relief by working 3.1 innings. He fanned two.
Sean Willingham (1-1) pitched six innings in taking the loss. He gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits, while fanning seven and walking one.
The Mountain Lions return to action with a single, nine-inning, game at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 5 in Aiken, S.C., against Peach Belt Conference member USC-Aiken. Go to http://livestats.prestosports.com/uscaiken/ for Live Stats.
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