YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | The Young Harris College baseball team delivered a statement road victory Friday afternoon, erupting for 16 unanswered runs to defeat Barton College 17-6 at Nixon Field. After falling behind early, the Mountain Lions flipped the game completely, using a dominant stretch from the sixth inning on to run away with the contest.
Barton built a 6-1 lead through four innings, but Young Harris began chipping away in the sixth when Jack Enrico delivered a two-run double to cut the deficit in half. What followed was an incredible offensive surge that changed everything.
The Mountain Lions broke the game open with an eight-run seventh inning. Carlos Martans started the rally with a two-run double before Kade Smallwood launched a three-run home run to give Young Harris its first lead. Moments later, Keypher Contreras ripped a two-run triple and later scored as the inning continued to snowball.
Young Harris kept the pressure on late, highlighted by a three-run home run from Contreras in the eighth before long balls from Kyle Chatham and Jackson Morgan in the ninth capped the 17-run outburst.
Player of the game is awarded to Keypher Contreras, who delivered a massive performance at the plate. The Mountain Lions outfielder went 3-for-5 with five RBI, including a go-ahead two-run triple and a three-run home run that helped put the game out of reach.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
• Young Harris scored 16 unanswered runs after trailing 6-1.
• Keypher Contreras finished 3-for-5 with a triple, home run, three runs scored, and five RBI.
• Kade Smallwood launched a go-ahead three-run home run in the seventh inning.
• Carlos Martans recorded two hits and two RBI to spark the big inning.
• Ryan Heishman provided three scoreless innings in relief to stabilize the game.
• Sam Neal closed the game with a scoreless ninth and two strikeouts.
Up Next;
The Mountain Lions continue their road series at Barton as Young Harris looks to build on the offensive momentum heading into the series finale doubleheader on Friday.
