WINGATE, N.C. -- Alex Sniffen allowed just three hits over seven innings but Young Harris rallied from a 5-0 eighth-inning deficit for a 6-5 victory over Belmont Abbey Friday afternoon in an elimination game at the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional #2.
The Lions scored two runs in the eighth and four in the ninth to complete the rally. The game winner was a two-run walk-off homer by Jackson Jones.
The loss ends the Crusaders season at 34-19.Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Kale Rhame went 3-for-4 with two runs batted in. His two-run single in the eighth made the score 5-0.
- Zach Aehlert, Ben Ferguson and Adam Overcash each recorded two hits. The Crusaders finished the contest with 12.
- Sniffen tied his career-high with 11 strikeouts against just three walks. He retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced.Â
- He made his longest start of the season, pitching seven innings and throwing 122 pitches. Both statistics are career bests from the right-hander.Â
- For the third time this season, Johnson opened the game with a home run. He hit a 3-2 pitch over the wall in left center for a 1-0 lead.
- Overcash followed with a double, then scored on a Ferguson single to right. Two outs later, Aehlert doubled home Ben Gobbel to make the score 3-0.
- Young Harris answered after that. The Lions scored a pair of runs in the eighth before Avery Short retired the potential tying run at the plate.
- After a line out to start the ninth, YHC strung together a single, double and single to close the gap to 5-4 and set up the final heroics.Â
