HARROGATE, Tenn. | Young Harris College and Lincoln Memorial University split a non-conference softball doubleheader Sunday (Feb. 24) afternoon at Neely Field.

The 18th-ranked Mountain Lions won the opener 5-4, before the Railsplitters claimed the nightcap 5-0.

The Mountain Lions improved to 8-4, while Lincoln Memorial fell to 10-2. Young Harris faces Mars Hill University in a 1 p.m. doubleheader Wednesday (Feb. 27) in its home opener at E.D. Rivers Field.

Young Harris took a 3-0 lead in the opener as Jill Torres launched a three-run homer in the third inning to center, scoring Haylie Shope, who had reached on a fielder's choice, and Emily Harris, who singled through the left side.

LMU got a run back in its half of the inning, but the Mountain Lions took a 4-1 lead on Harris' RBI single to left-center in the fourth. LMU added a run in the bottom of the sixth before Grace Botti drove in an insurance run in the top of the seventh with her double to left-center to give the Mountain Lions a 5-2 lead.

Nikkie Kovalsky (6-3) earned the win as she struck out eight in the complete game. Harris and Morgan Curley led the Mountain Lions with two hits each. Curley also had a double in the win.

In the nightcap, the Railsplitters scored three runs off YHC starter Louisa Disi (1-1) in the first inning and made it stand.

Young Harris collected seven hits in the loss, but left nine runners stranded as Justice Smith (3-0) earned the shutout for the Railsplitters. Dara Moore and Kristan Lizardi led the way with two hits apiece, while Curley, Harris, Carly Rigsbee had one each.