Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – Shepherd University rapped 38 hits on the day en route to a doubleheader sweep of West Liberty in MEC softball action at West Liberty on Sunday. Shepherd gained a 22-3 win in game one and added a 14-8 victory in the nightcap.

Holding a 10-3 lead in game one, Shepherd exploded for 12 runs in the fourth inning to pull away for the route. Sophomore outfielder Shannon Lyons (Harpers Ferry, W.Va./Jefferson) hit a three-run homer, senior shortstop Jess Mason (Martinsburg, WV/Hedgesville) added a two-run double, and junior second baseman Elisa Orlandi (Owings, MD/Northern) had a two-run single to highlight the rally.

Freshman designated player Rachel Kline (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) went 4-for-5 with four RBIs and four runs scored to pace the Rams in game one. She belted a two-run homer in the first. Lyons went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored.

Mason and Orlandi also added 3-for-4 efforts. Mason drove in three runs and scored one, while Orlandi drove in three and scored a pair of runs.

Freshman pitcher Kirsten Barstad (3.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 K, 0 BB) picked up the win for the Rams. Nicki Mihalik (0.2 IP, 1 H, 3 ER, 0 K, 2 BB) took the loss for the Hilltoppers.

Mason went 4-for-4 and Lyons went 2-for-2 with a three-run triple to lead the Rams in the nightcap. Junior first baseman Savannah Snyder (Elkton, MD/Padua Academy) hit a three-run homer and Kline added a solo blast.

Allyson Johnson hit a three-run homer for West Liberty.

Barstad (4.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0 K, 0 BB) (6-6) gained the win in relief in the nightcap. Paige Creamer (5.0 IP, 13 H, 10 R, 6 ER, 2 Ks, 3 BB) took the loss for the Hilltoppers.

Shepherd moves to 21-27 overall, with a 10-18 conference mark, while West Liberty falls to 10-39, 3-25. The Rams await word on seeding for the upcoming MEC Tournament.