YOUNG HARRIS, Ga.  |  Young Harris College fell to No. 7 Columbus State University 4-1 in the Peach Belt Conference baseball series opener Friday (April 20) evening at Zell B. Miller Field. 

The Cougars improved to 34-7 overall and 16-5 in the Peach Belt, while the Mountain Lions fell to 24-21 and 14-14. The two teams return to action Saturday (April 21) with a 2 p.m. start. 

Mason McClellan put Columbus State on the board in the third inning with a two-run single to right field. Both runs were unearned after a Young Harris error.

The Cougars added one run in the fifth and seventh innings to open a 4-0 lead. Drew Webb led off the seventh with a home run to left field.

Tristin Smith drove in the lone run for Young Harris in the bottom of the ninth inning with a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Cory Ewald, who led off with a single to left. The Mountain Lions, who stranded nine runners in the game, had the tying run at the plate, but the Cougars got Logan Worley to line out to end the game.

Kolton Ingram (9-2) picked up the win for Columbus State as he gave up six hits with three walks and eight strikeouts in eight innings pitched.

Michael Livingston (5-3) earned the loss for the Mountain Lions as he gave up four runs (one earned) on nine hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts in 7.2 innings pitched.

Ewald went 3-for-3 at the plate with a run scored. Smith collected one hit and a RBI. Corley Reynolds picked up two hits while  Worley, Tyler Washington, and Brett Graczyk tallied one hit apiece.