YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. –  The University of North Georgia hit three home runs as the Saints salvaged the final game of the weekend Peach Belt Conference baseball series with an 8-4 victory over Young Harris College Sunday (April 7) afternoon at Zell B. Miller Field.

The Saints improved to 12-23 overall and to 4-14 in the league while the Mountain Lions fell to 17-17 and 7-14. Young Harris continues its home stand with a 5 p.m. contest Tuesday (April 9) against the University of West Georgia.

North Georgia hit two of the round trippers in the first inning as they jumped on Young Harris starter James Mills (2-3) for four two-out runs. Derek Hooper, who went 5-for-6, and Travis Naraine reached base with singles before Tremayne Toorie hit a 1-0 offering over the left field fence to give the Saints a 3-0 lead. It was Toorie's fifth homer of the season. Kevin Krupp followed with homer to right-center field fence on the first pitch he saw. It was the first hit of the season for Krupp.

Young Harris got a run back in the second on a single back up the middle by Zach Bricknell. North Georgia opened up an 8-1 lead after they scored three times in the fifth. Eason Spivey homer to right before Hooper added a two-run double to center field.

The Mountain Lions rallied for three runs in the bottom of the eighth to close the deficit to 8-4. David Atwood drove home the first run with a single back up the middle and Jack Morrow, who went 3-for-4, stroked a two-run triple to deep center field. Young Harris had the tying run at the plate, but reliever Brandon Agar got Bricknell to ground out to quell the threat.

Taylor Keinat (2-5) scattered five hits in 7 2/3 innings to earn the win for North Georgia.