YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Young Harris College protected home field in the latest Roar Wars matchup Friday, sweeping rival Emmanuel University with a 4-3 victory in game one and an 8-0 run-rule win in game two. The Mountain Lions collected 19 hits across the doubleheader, pairing timely offense with dominant pitching to secure the rivalry sweep and keep the roar firmly in Young Harris.

GAME ONE: (YH 4, Emmanuel 3)

Young Harris wasted little time setting the tone in the opener, striking for three runs in the first inning and holding off a late Emmanuel push to claim the Roar Wars opener. Gracie Hughes sparked the early rally with an RBI double to center that scored Shelby Duncan and moved Haley Cummings to third. Addie Heal followed with an RBI single to right field to plate Cummings before Shayla Pennington reached on an Emmanuel error that allowed Hughes to score and extend the lead to 3-0.

Emmanuel responded with a run in the second inning, but the Mountain Lions added a key insurance run in the fourth when Bailee Brown singled to left field to score Jordan Morris and push the advantage to 4-1. The Lions showed out in the sixth inning with a two-run double from Ciara Passmore that trimmed the lead to one, but Young Harris turned to the bullpen late as Julia Moore delivered 1.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts to secure the Roar Wars opener.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Bailee Brown led the offense with two hits and an RBI.

• Gracie Hughes went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI, helping ignite the first-inning rally.

• Jordan Morris recorded two hits and scored a run.

• Lilly Jones earned the win with four strikeouts in 3.1 innings of work.

• Julia Moore collected the save with 1.1 scoreless innings and two strikeouts.

• Young Harris totaled 11 hits in the opener.

GAME TWO: (YH 8, Emmanuel 0)

Young Harris carried its momentum into game two, combining efficient offense with dominant pitching to secure the five-inning shutout victory. The Mountain Lions broke through in the second inning when Jordan Morris singled to center field to score Maddy Brady and Shayla Pennington for a 2-0 lead. Young Harris added two more in the third as Gracie Hughes lifted a sacrifice fly that scored Bailee Brown before Mallory Clark followed with an RBI single to bring home Shelby Duncan.

YH delivered the decisive blow in the fourth inning. Brown doubled to right center to plate Brady before Shelby Duncan ripped a two-run double that scored Brown and Morris. Hughes capped the inning with an RBI single, pushing the lead to eight and sealing the run-rule victory. Julia Moore controlled the game from the circle, tossing a five-inning complete game shutout, allowing five hits while striking out five to earn her seventh win of the season.

Player of the Game is awarded to Shelby Duncan, who delivered a perfect performance at the plate, going 2-for-2 with two runs scored and a two-run double that highlighted the decisive fourth inning.

Young Harris improves to 15-11 overall, while Emmanuel falls to 3-19 on the season following the rivalry sweep.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Julia Moore threw a five-inning complete-game shutout, allowing five hits and striking out five.

• Shelby Duncan went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBIs, including a two-run double.

• Jordan Morris finished 2-for-2 with two RBIs to spark the early offense.

• Bailee Brown scored two runs and added an RBI double in the fourth inning rally.

• Gracie Hughes drove in two runs with a sacrifice fly and RBI single.

• Young Harris recorded eight hits in the run-rule victory.

UP NEXT:

Your Mountain Lions return to action March 14 for a doubleheader against the Patriots of Francis Marion University in the Enchanted Valley, with first pitch scheduled for noon!