SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va.  – Shepherd University swept West Liberty in MEC baseball doubleheader action at Fairfax Field on Friday. Shepherd recorded an 8-0 win in game one and rallied for a 13-2 victory in the nightcap.

Shepherd took a 3-0 lead in the first inning in game one behind an RBI-ground out by junior outfielder Matt Wilson (Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley/Essex CC) and a two-run single by senior designated hitter Ryan Messina (St. James, NY/Smithtown East/Tampa).

The Rams added a pair of runs in the third as freshman second baseman Jacob Carney (Stephens City, Va./Sherando) had an RBI-single and a sacrifice fly off the bat of junior third baseman Bryce Shemer (Potomac, Md./Winston Churchill/Colorado Mesa).

Shepherd tacked on three more runs in the fifth with Shemer, Carney, and senior first baseman Brandon Coffey (Manassas, Va./Osbourn) each driving in a run.

Senior outfielder Michael Lott (Woodbridge, VA/Woodbridge), Carney, and Coffey each had a pair of hits for the Rams.

Senior pitcher Paul Hvozdovic (Herndon, Va./Herndon) (8-0) scattered four hits while fanning 11 and walking one. West Liberty starter Yale Hughes (3-2) (4.0 IP, 5 H, 7 ER, 2 Ks, 5 BB) took the loss.

West Liberty took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first in the nightcap behind a two-run double from Tim Mirandy.

Shepherd answered back in the bottom of the frame to take a 3-2 lead with a two-run double by Wilson keying the rally.

The Rams pulled way with seven runs in the fourth. Lott had a three-run triple and Messina added a two-run double to key the scoring outburst.

Wilson went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored and Messina had a 3-for-4 effort with three RBIs and a run scored to lead the Rams. Lott went 2-for-3, drove in four runs, and scored a pair.

Sophomore pitcher Jamie Driver (Broad Run, Va./Kettle Run) (7-1) (6.0 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 Ks, 0 BB) earned the win with help from sophomore pitcher Derek Buckley (Toms Brook, Va./Strasburg) (1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 Ks, 0 BB). Hilltopper starter Dylan Grosul (3-3) (3.2 IP, 10 R, 5 ER, 2 Ks, 4 BB) took the loss.

Shepherd improves to 29-8, 27-5 in conference play, while West Liberty falls to 21-18, 18-13. The two teams return to action on Saturday at Fairfax Field for Senior Day with doubleheader action beginning at 1 p.m.

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

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