SALISBURY, N.C. | The Young Harris College baseball team capped off a remarkable 2026 season with a run to the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship game after earning two victories over Wingate during regional play at Newman Park.
The Mountain Lions finished the season 41-18 overall after capturing the Conference Carolinas Championship and advancing to the Southeast Regional Championship game.
Game One: Young Harris 9, Wingate 3
Young Harris opened regional play with a 9-3 victory over Wingate behind a huge performance from Jackson Morgan and an extremely strong outing from Sam Neal.
Morgan finished 4-for-5 with two home runs, a double, five RBI, and three runs scored. Keypher Contreras added a home run, while Jeo Hernandez and Jonny Smith each drove in runs.
Neal earned the win after tossing eight innings while allowing three runs, two earned, with four strikeouts. Austin Ritchie closed the game with a scoreless ninth inning.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Jackson Morgan: 4-for-5, two home runs, double, five RBI, three runs scored
- Keypher Contreras: two hits, home run, RBI
- Jeo Hernandez: double, two RBI
- Sam Neal: eight innings pitched, three runs allowed, two earned, four strikeouts
Game Two: Catawba 17, Young Harris 5
Young Harris fell into the elimination bracket after a loss to Catawba on Friday evening.
Jeo Hernandez and Jackson Morgan each homered for the Mountain Lions, while Jayden Carbonell-Smith delivered a three-RBI double during a four-run seventh inning.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
Game Three: Young Harris 14, Wingate 3
Facing elimination, the Mountain Lions responded with another dominant performance, defeating Wingate 14-3 to advance to the Southeast Regional Title Game.
Sydney Ward powered the offense with a monster performance, going 4-for-5 with two home runs, a double, five RBI, and two runs scored. Jackson Morgan added three hits, a home run, and four RBI, while Jeo Hernandez went 4-for-5 with a triple and two RBI.
Cole Molina earned the win after allowing three runs, two earned, across seven innings. Cade Middleton tossed two scoreless innings in relief.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
Game Four: Catawba 6, Young Harris 4
Young Harris battled until the final out in Saturday night's Southeast Regional Title Game before falling to Catawba 6-4.
Catawba built a 5-0 lead before Jackson Morgan launched a two-run home run in the fourth inning to get the Mountain Lions on the board. After the Indians added another run in the eighth, Jeo Hernandez delivered a two-run single later in the inning to trim the deficit to two.
The Mountain Lions brought the tying run to the plate late, but Catawba held on to secure the regional title.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
Young Harris closes the 2026 season as Conference Carolinas Champions and Southeast Regional finalists after an outstanding postseason run.
