Mountain Lions Take Rubber Match, Clinch Series at Auburn Montgomery

Spencer Mathis

Director of Media & Communications

The Young Harris College Mountain Lions used an explosive offensive start to claim the rubber match on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 1), defeating the Auburn University at Montgomery Warhawks 18–12 at the AUM Baseball Complex to take the weekend series two games to one. 

Young Harris scored 14 runs across the first three innings to seize early control and held off a midgame surge from the Warhawks to secure the series-clinching victory. The Mountain Lions finished the afternoon with 19 hits and eight walks, producing double-digit runs for the second time in the series. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• The Mountain Lions struck immediately in the opening inning, highlighted by a two-run homer from Keypher Contreras and a three-run blast from Jeo Hernandez to jump out to a 6–0 lead. 

• Young Harris added five more runs in the second inning and three more in the third, extending the advantage to 14–0 before Auburn Montgomery got on the board. 

• The Warhawks rallied with eight runs in the fifth inning to cut into the deficit, but Young Harris answered with insurance runs in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings to close out the win. 

• Young Harris scored 14 runs over the first three innings, including six in the first and five in the second. 

• Jonny Smith finished 4-for-5 with three RBI, three runs scored, and a stolen base. 

• Jack Enrico went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI. 

• Jeo Hernandez drove in four runs, highlighted by a three-run home run in the first inning and a sacrifice bunt RBI in the ninth. 

• Jackson Morgan added a three-run homer in the third inning, while Keypher Contreras homered and scored three times. 

• Sydney Ward recorded three hits and drove in two runs. 

• Drew Sofield earned the win, allowing two runs (one earned) over four innings while striking out five. 

• Sam Neal picked up the save, working the final 4.2 innings to help secure the rubber-match victory. 

• Auburn Montgomery was led by home run performances from Kaden Hipp and Connor McNeill. 

UP NEXT:

Your Mountain Lions return to action on Tuesday (Feb. 3) at 3 p.m., as they take on the Nighthawks from the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega!