Visiting Young Harris College put five big runs on the board in the top of the fourth inning and took control of Wednesday afternoon's non-conference game in handing the Lee baseball team a 10-4 loss. The Mountain Lions improved to 6-1 while the Flames dropped to 5-3.  

"It was a frustrating day. Young Harris came out extremely aggressive on the bases and at the plate. We struggled to throw strikes and execute pitches and they took advantage of us," said a disappointed Lee coach Mark Brew. "Offensively, we had a few opportunities early, but they got some big double plays and then our bats went quiet until the ninth."  

Lee ends early non-conference action and turns to GSC play this weekend, traveling to Jackson, Tennessee and facing Union University in a three-game series beginning with a Saturday doubleheader (2 p.m.). A single game will follow on Sunday (2 p.m.). 

"We've got to regroup quickly and get ready to play a Union team that is likely one of the most improved GSC teams this year. It will be a challenge on the road, but I expect us to bounce back and play better," added Coach Brew. 

The Mountain Lions jumped on top 1-0 in the first inning, but it was a big fourth inning that put the Flames deep in the hole when the visitors sent nine batters to the plate. The uprising occurred with just three hits, but Lee pitchers also issued a pair of walks and hit one batter in the frame.  

In the meantime, Lee threatened in the early innings. A double play wiped out a scoring opportunity in the first inning and a tremendous catch by Mountain Lion center-fielder Logan Worley robbed Jake Edwards of one of the hardest hit balls of the afternoon on a drive to left-centerfield in the second inning.  

The Flames had two more baserunners in the fifth but didn't put runs on the board until the bottom of the ninth inning and that came too little, too late. JJ Williams opened the ninth with a double and Matthew Batts drilled his first homerun of the year over the left-field wall. Edwards and Cam Suto followed with one-base hits. Edwards later scored on a balk and Suto on a sac-fly by Riley Majano. 

Lee finished with 10 hits. Edwards had two followed by Thomas Zazzaro, Justen Freeman, Williams, Batts, Suto, Majano and Nate Bynum with one hit each.  

The Flames used eight pitchers in the loss. Greyson Linderman started and worked three innings and was charged with the defeat. Tim Gooden, 1.2 innings of no-hit ball and Brycen Jewell, 1.0 and two strikeouts, were the most effective Lee hurlers. 

The Mountain Lions pounded out 13 hits and also stole nine bases. Worley, Jackson Jones, Noah Fitzgerald and Steven Spell had two hits each. Kyle Ayers doubled while Spell drove in three runs and Worley, Ethan Underwood and Rome Wallace scored two runs apiece.  

Young Harris used five pitchers in the victory. McLain Harris started and hurled three innings allowing three hits. Dylan Beck came on and recorded the win. He pitched three innings and allowed two hits, no walks and struck out a batter. The Flames got their runs in the ninth off Brady Caloway, who allowed four hits and four earned runs.