DAHLONEGA, Ga.  |  Brett Graczyk drove in two runs, while Rudy Gaona and Tristin Smith each homered as Young Harris College beat the University of North Georgia 5-4 in game two of the Battle of Blood Mountain baseball series Saturday (April 7) afternoon at Bob Stein Stadium. 

The Mountain Lions improved to 21-16 overall and 13-10 in the Peach Belt Conference, while the Nighthawks fell to 20-13 and 12-8. The win by the Mountain Lions ties for the most PBC victories - also accomplished in 2014 -  in a season in program history,. The two teams play the rubber game of the series Sunday (April 8) at 1 p.m. 

Gaona led off the second inning for the Mountain Lions with a homer over the fence in left field, his team leading seventh home run of the season. Later in the inning, Graczyk gave Young Harris a 3-0 lead after a single through the left side scored Tyler Washington and Corley Reynolds. 

North Georgia got one back in the fourth inning after a solo home run to left field by Jake Arnold. 

Reynolds made it a 4-1 game for the Mountain Lions with a fifth inning single to right center that scored Cory Ewald. 

Smith hit his fifth home run of the season to left field in the top of the sixth inning to give Young Harris a 5-2 lead.  The Nighthawks made it a 5-3 game in the bottom half of the sixth inning Chase Sudduth reached on a fielder's choice that scored Nick Clarno. 

Conner Borbitt brought the game within one (5-4) for North Georgia in the bottom of the ninth inning with a solo homer over the left field fence, but  McLain Harris retired the next two batter to secure the victory for the Mountain Lions and notch his third saves of 2018.

Dylan Gibeau (3-1) picked up the win for Young Harris as he allowed three runs on eight hits with two walks and four strikeouts in five innings. Harris allowed one run on one hit with two walks and one strikeout in four innings of relief. 

Graczyk tallied one hit and two RBI. Gaona and Reynolds each collected two hits, one RBI, and one run scored. Smith had one hit, one RBI, and a run scored while Ewald finished with one hit and a run scored. Logan Worley and Skylor Murphy each collected one hit. 

Kyle Luigs (3-2) earned the loss for the Nighthawks as he allowed three runs on three hits with one walk in one inning pitched.