SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Shepherd University won a pair of games over West Virginia State in MEC baseball doubleheader action at Fairfax Field on Saturday. The Rams earned a 7-4 win in game one and added a 5-3 victory in the nightcap.
The Rams used a 13-hit attack en route to the win in game one.
Clinging to a 3-2 lead, Shepherd plated four runs in the fourth to take a 7-2 advantage. A two-run single by senior outfielder Kyle Porter (Baltimore, Md./Good Counsel/CCBC) keyed the rally.
Porter and junior outfielder Matt Wilson (Baltimore, Md./ Archbishop Curley/Essex CC) each had 3-for-4 outings with Wilson scoring three times.
Senior outfielder Michael Lott (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge), senior designated hitter Ryan Messina (St. James, NY/Smithtown East/Tampa), and junior catcher Jason Hepple (Margate, FL/Highland Christian Academy/Garrett CC) each contributed a pair of hits.
Noah Blackhurst went 2-for-2 to lead the Yellow Jackets.
Junior pitcher Bryan DiRosario (Alexandria, Va./Hayfield Secondary School) (3.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 Ks, 0 BB) (1-0) picked up a complete game win for the Rams. Tyler Hall (3.2 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 0 Ks, 1 BB) took the loss for State.
Shepherd took a 2-0 lead in the first inning in the nightcap on a two-run homer by Wilson.
The Rams added a run in the second as senior shortstop T.J Weisenburg (Hedgesville, W.Va./Martinsburg) reached base on a hit-by-pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Wolfe.
The Yellow Jackets cut the lead to 3-1 with a run in the third Trenton Porter reached base on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly by Zachary Cloxton.
Shepherd added a pair of runs in the fourth. Porter singled and scored on a double off the bat of Wolfe. Wolfe later scored when Messina reached on an infield error.
State railed with a pair of runs in the seventh, but sophomore reliever Ryan Pansch (Charles Town, W.Va./Washington) got Jack Hudson to line to Weisenburg with two on and two out to earn his second save of the year.
Hepple and Lott each led the Rams with a pair of hits.
Porter went 2-for-3 with two runs scored to lead State.
Junior starter Austin Hale (Nokesville, Va./Frederick CC) (6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 Ks, 0 BB) (3-1) gained the win for the Rams. State starter Jerod Jobst (3.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 0 Ks, 2 BB) (1-1) took the loss for the Yellow Jackets.
Shepherd improves to 14-7, 12-4 in conference play, while West Virginia State falls to 12-8, 8-8. The Rams return to action on Wednesday when they travel to West Virginia Wesleyan for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
