Mountain Lions Open 2026 with Split at Georgia College, Highlighted by Comeback Win

Photo by Curtis Markham

Spencer Mathis

Director of Media & Communications

The Young Harris College Mountain Lions opened the 2026 softball season with a split on Friday afternoon (Jan. 30), rallying for an 8–6 comeback victory in game one before falling 3–2 on a walk-off double in the nightcap against the Georgia College Bobcats. 

Game One: (Young Harris 8, Georgia College 6)

• Young Harris erased a four-run deficit with a six-run fifth inning to secure a dramatic season-opening win. 

• Trailing 6–2 entering the frame, the Mountain Lions sent 11 batters to the plate and capitalized on timely hitting and patience to flip the game. 

• Maddy Brady sparked the rally with an RBI single, followed by an RBI walk from Hannah Davis. Bailee Brown reached on a fielder's choice to drive in a run and Shelby Duncan added an RBI single; Addie Heal delivered a run-scoring sacrifice fly, before Gracie Hughes capped the inning with an RBI triple to give Young Harris an 8–6 lead. 

• Brady finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Brown went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Hughes drove in a run with the Mountain Lions first triple of the season. 

• In the circle, Isabella Pecorilli worked 2.2 innings before Julia Moore closed the door with 4.1 scoreless frames in relief, allowing just one hit to earn the win. 

Game Two: (Georgia College 3, Young Harris 2)

• The Bobcats responded in the second game, edging Young Harris with a walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh inning to claim the split. 

• Young Harris struck first in the second inning on an RBI single from Brady, then tied the game at 2–2 in the fifth when Cummings doubled home Shelby Duncan. 

• Georgia College pushed across the winning run in the final frame on a two-out RBI double by Hobbs. 

• Lilly Jones turned in a strong start for the Mountain Lions, tossing 6.1 innings while allowing three runs. Natalie Paolino was tagged with the loss after coming in to relieve Jones. 

• Young Harris finished with six hits in the contest compared to five for GCSU. 

Up Next:

The Mountain Lions Softball program will resume action next Friday (Feb. 6) afternoon in Chattanooga, TN, as they take on Union University (12:30 PM) and UVA Wise (5:30 PM).