YOUNG HARRIS, GA. The Mountain Lions started conference play with an impressive three-game series win over the Chowan University Hawks (Feb 16^th-17^th). Graham Edwards had an incredible evening on the bump as the game two starter. He finished with a program record-tying 16 strikeouts after 6.2 innings pitched. Matthew Pearce came in to seal the deal with the shutout. 
 
The Mountain Lions advance to 7-3 overall and start Conference Carolinas play at 3-0. The Hawks move to 1-5 overall and are 0-3 in Conference Carolinas.
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH STEPHEN WAGGENER:
"Really proud of our guys after this weekend. They had some adversity to fight with the weather conditions, but I really think that we earned all three wins. Both games [in the double-header] were tight, and we won in the final two frames. It was a hard-fought day. We had some great pitching performances that gave our hitters time to do what we needed them to do."
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
 
Game 1:

• YH took game one with a final score of 6-3.
• Chowan came out swinging early; two unearned runs got them on the board with a 2-0 lead. 
• The Mountain Lions slowly crawled back. Kyle Chatham (1-3) and Jack Enrico brought home runners in the second and third innings to tie the game at two. 
• Carlos Martans went yard in the fourth for the go-ahead run. YH led 3-2.
• CU's Caden Rector's RBI single to left field kept the game in reach for the Hawks. 
• However, the Mountain Lions bats started to put the game away. Kade Smallwood (1-3) found a hole in the left side, Carlos Martans (2-3) singled to left center, and Luke Hatcher (2-3) knocked one through the middle all for RBIs in the game's late innings. 
• Jacob Autry picked up his first win of the season after three IP and four strikeouts. 

 
Game 2:

• The Mountain Lions shutout the Hawks with a final score of 5-0.
• After a scoreless six innings on both sides, Johnny Smith (1-3) hit an RBI single to start the Purple & White offense. Mark Castle (1-2) stepped up to the plate and knocked in three after he hit a double up the middle. Lastly, Carlos Martans grounded out in the infield but brought home a run. YH led 5-0.
• Starting pitcher Graham Edwards had a career night. He threw 6.2 innings and recorded 16 total strikeouts, 12 which were consecutive through four innings. Edwards is now 2-1 on the 2025 campaign. 
• Edwards was one out away from a complete game shutout. Matthew Pearce finished the job and added a save to his resume. 

 
Game 3:

• Young Harris dominated in game three, defeating Chowan with a final score of 12-0.
• The Mountain Lions jumped out to a 6-0 lead thanks to at bats from Jeremy Begora (1-3), Jack Enrico (1-3), Marco Colina (3-4), Kyle Chatham (1-5), and Mark Castle (1-4). 
• In the bottom of the fourth, Luke Hatcher doubled down the left field line for a YH run.
• A costly pitching and fielding mistake by the Hawks added on two more for Young Harris in the fifth. 
• Marco Colina continued his hot day at the plate with an RBI single to left field, which was followed by Kyle Chatham's efforts to bring in another. After the sixth, the Mountain Lions led 11-0.
• The final run for Young Harris came from a bases-loaded walk from the CU pitching staff. 
• YH starter Drew Howard picked up a win after 7.2 IP and four strikeouts. 

 
 
UP NEXT: The Mountain Lions will return home tomorrow in a regional rivalry match up against the University of North Georgia Nighthawks (Feb 18^th). First pitch for the Battle of Blood Mountain is scheduled for 3PM. 
 
 
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