SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Shepherd University fell twice to 23rd-ranked West Virginia Wesleyan in MEC softball doubleheader action at Shepherd on Wednesday. The Bobcats posted a 17-1 win in game one and rallied for an 8-2 win in the nightcap.
Jessica Griffin went 4-for-4 with three doubles, four RBIs and three runs scored, while Carly Gregory went 3-for 4 with seven RBIs and a run scored to lead the Bobcats in game one. Gregory hit a grand slam in the fourth inning.
Shepherd's lone run came in the third when sophomore outfielder Kass Taylor (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown) reached on an infield single and later scored on an RBI by freshman designated player Jennifer Schofield (Forest Hill, Md./Bel Air).
Taylor went 2-for- 2 to lead the Rams.
Freshman starter Kirsten Barstad (Joppa, Md./Mercy) (0.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 Ks, 0 BB) (2-6) took the loss for the Rams. Griffin (5.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 Ks, 4 BB) (5-1) gained the complete game win for the Bobcats.
Shepherd took a 2-0 lead in the third inning in the nightcap as freshman third baseman Alexandra Witt (Harpers Ferry, W.Va./Jefferson) hit a two-out double and senior shortstop Jess Mason (Martinsburg, WV/Hedgesville) followed with a two-run blast to left.
The Bobcats plated five runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to gain the victory. Jessica Rodriguez had a two-run double to key the five-run rally in the fourth.
Jacquie Omichinski (7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 Ks, 0 BB) (6-2) picked up the win for the Bobcats. Freshman pitcher Tara Hanson (Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown) (4.0 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 0 Ks, 3 BB) (4-6) took th e loss.Shepherd falls to 9-17 overall, 0-8 in MEC play, while West Virginia Wesleyan improves to 22-6, 7-1. The Rams return to action on Saturday when they host Urbana for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
