FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. | Skylor Murphy and
Jackson Jones each collected four hits as Young Harris College rallied past Emmanuel (Ga.) College 21-12 in a non-conference baseball game Tuesday (April 3) evening at the Lions Den.
The Mountain Lions improved to 20-15, while the Lions slipped to 12-19. Young Harris travels to Dahlonega, Georgia, Friday (April 6) to start a three-game Peach Belt Conference weekend series against its Blood Mountain rival University of North Georgia for a 7 p.m. contest.
Emmanuel jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the first inning as they connected on three home runs, including a grand slam by Jake Nichols.
The Lions expanded their lead to 9-0 before Young Harris started its comeback. The Mountain Lions scored six times in the third inning,
Rudy Gaona started with a two-run single to left before
Tristin Smith and
Tyler Washington drew back-to-back walks with the bases loaded.
Corley Reynolds drove in another run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded before
Brett Graczyk added a sacrifice fly.
Young Harris tied the game at 9 with a three-run fifth inning. Murphy stroked an RBI double to left field while two runs scored on fielding error on Jones' infield grounder. The Mountain Lions put up a six spot in the sixth inning to open up a 15-9 lead.
Logan Worley smacked a two-run double down the right field line before Murphy drove in a run on his fielder's choice. Smith drove in two runs with a single through the right side to close out the scoring.
Emmanuel got two runs back in the bottom half of the inning before Jones smacked his second grand slam of the season in the seventh to take a 19-11 lead. It was his fourth long ball of the season
Young Harris scored its final two runs in the ninth. Murphy drove in one on his double to left-center field, while
Cory Ewald added a sacrifice fly.
Jones drove in four runs, while Murphy and Smith each drove in three. Murphy led YHC with three doubles. Young Harris collected 20 hits in the win, led by Murphy and Jones' four hits each. Worley and Gaona finished with three hits apiece, while Reynolds and Graczyk had two hits each.
Hudson Graham (2-0) earned the win with five innings of relief for the Mountain Lions.
