YOUNG HARRIS, GA. The Mountain Lions come away with two of three from a tough regional opponent in UNC Pembroke (Mar 7^th-8^th). Zach Hart and Austin Ritchie found their groove on the mound as the Mountain Lion starters who dominated this weekend. Hart pitched an incredible complete game shutout on Friday night. 
 
The Mountain Lions advance to 15-7 overall and move to 8-4 in Conference Carolinas play. The Braves move to 14-8 overall and are 4-5 in Conference Carolinas.
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH STEPHEN WAGGENER:
"It was a great weekend for our pitching staff! Proud of our overall play in the first two games. And definitely disappointed we didn't finish the series in game three the way we wanted to."
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
 
Game 1 (3/7):

• The Mountain Lions bested the Braves in game one with a final score of 1-0.
• Young Harris starter Zach Hart pitched a complete game shutout. He only allowed four hits and picked up six strikeouts. This was his most dominant outing of the season, recording his third win. 
• Both offenses remained quiet until the eighth inning. Drew Bray (2-4) made contact at the plate, tripling to right field to knock in Carlos Martans. This was the only run scored this evening, but the only one that mattered. 
• Jonny Smith and Marco Colina each swiped a bag for YH.

Game 2 (3/8 – 7 innings):

• Game two was all Mountain Lion action at the plate, who won with a final score of 9-1.
• Jace Wilson (1-3) got things going in the second inning with an RBI double up the middle. YH was on top 2-0 early. 
• Young Harris put lots of action on the base paths in the third. Luke Hatcher (1-4) blasted one to right field, his fourth on the season. Mark Castle added two more with an RBI double down the right field line. Lastly, Marco Colina reached on a fielder's choice and brought in Jace Wilson. 
• The lone run that UNC Pembroke scored came from a YH throwing error in the fifth. 
• Carlos Martans was successful at the plate in the fifth with an RBI single to right field.
• A combined Jace Wilson and Drew Bray effort stretched the lead 9-1 in the sixth. Wilson made contact to bring home Jeremy Begora (1-2) and Drew Bray' selectivity at the plate led him to a bases loaded walk. 
• Jonny Smith (2-4) and Mark Castle (3-3) both finished with impressive stat lines at the plate. 
• YH had 10 hits to UNCP's three in game two. 
• Austin Ritchie picked up the win after five innings pitched and three punch outs. 

Game 3 (3/8 – 9 innings):

• UNC P held on to avoid the sweep in game three, defeating YH with a final score of 5-4.
• Jacob Smith of UNC Pembroke broke the ice in the first with an RBI single to left field. The Braves led 1-0 until the fourth.
• For the lead, Jack Enrico tripled down the right field line for two RBIs.
• UNC Pembroke crawled back to the top in the fifth. Jacob Smith and Kasen McCawley's at-bats did the job. Young Harris trailed 4-2.
•  Each team struck in the eighth inning. For the Braves, Will Hood's dropped third strike caused some chaos among the YH defense which brought in a run. Jonny Smith (2-4) gave the Mountain Lions some life with a two-run home run, but it wasn't enough.
• The Young Harris pitching staff totaled nine strikeouts as a collective. Graham Edwards, Brady Caloway, and Sam Neal found themselves on the mound.

 
UP NEXT: The Mountain Lions will continue their play at home when they take on the Lions of Mars Hill University in a midweek game on Tuesday (Mar 11^th) for a 2PM first pitch. 
 
 
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