GULF SHORES, Ala. | Young Harris College opened its first day of play at the Gulf Coast Invitational Saturday (Feb. 6) with a split. The University of West Florida edged the Mountain Lions 2-1 in eight innings while the Mountain Lions shut out Tuskegee University 11-0 in five innings.
 
Young Harris improved to 5-1, The Mountain Lions close out the Invitational with two games Sunday (Feb. 7). YHC will face the University of North Alabama at 11:15 a.m. Central time followed by a 1:30 p.m. contest against the University of West Alabama.
 
Against Tuskegee, the Mountain Lions jumped on the Golden Tigers for 11 runs over the first three innings, including six runs in the second inning. Sarah Magill led Young Harris with three hits, including a double, as she drove in two runs. Lindsay Tudor and Murphy Davis pounded out two hits apiece. Davis led Young Harris with three RBI. Grace Botti stroked a two-run homer in the second inning for her second long ball of 2016.
 
Mary Catherine Smith (2-0) allowed two hits and struck out three for YHC.
 
West Florida pushed across the go-ahead run in the eighth on a ground out off Mountain Lion starter Darby Stanford (2-1). Botti drove in the lone YHC run in the third inning on a bases-loaded walk. Jeanie Perrucci led Young Harris with two hits.