Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 SHEPHERD SOFTBALL GOES 2-1 AT MEC TOURNAMENT

SALEM, Va. – Shepherd University went 2-1 in second day action of the MEC Softball Tournament in Salem, Virginia on Saturday. The Rams gained a 3-0 win over Wheeling Jesuit and added 12-6 triumph over University of Charleston before being eliminated by Notre Dame, 3-1.

Shepherd took a 1-0 lead in the first inning against Wheeling Jesuit as junior outfielder Kass Taylor (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown) reached on an error and later scored on a single off the bat of senior third baseman Savannah Snyder (Elkton, Md./Padua Academy).

Taylor walked and later scored on a single by sophomore first baseman Alexandra Witt (Harpers Ferry, W.Va./Jefferson) in the fifth to up the Shepherd lead to 2-0.

The Rams added an insurance run in the seventh when senior second baseman Elisa Orlandi (Owings, MD/Northern) walked and scored on a double by Taylor.

Witt led the Rams with a pair of hits.

Sophomore pitcher Tara Hanson (Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown) (7.0 IP, 4 Ks, 2 BB) (10-11) tossed a two-hit shutout for the Rams. Mallory Chapman (7.0 IP, 6 H, 3R, 1 ER, 6 K, 3 BB) (15-8) took the loss for the Cardinals.

Sophomore outfielder Paige Buckworth (Elkton, Md./North East) went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer to help the Rams outslug Charleston in the second game. She drove in three runs and scored a pair.

The Rams got off to a quick start with six runs in the first inning.

Senior outfielder Tayler Schaefer (Dunkirk, Md./Northern), Witt, Orlandi, and Snyder each drove in a pair of runs for the Rams.

Bethany Williams belted a three-run homer to lead Charleston.

Hanson (7.0 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 4 ER 3 Ks, 4 BB) (11-11) gained her second win of the day. Jessie Rowe (0.2 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 1 ER, 0 K 1 BB) (11-5) took the loss for the Golden Eagles.

Shepherd took a 1-0 lead against Notre Dame in the second as Snyder led off with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly by senior catcher Shanan Plunkett (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown).

The Falcons tied the game in the bottom of the frame behind an RBI-single by Maria Vanadia.

Notre Dame got a solo homer by Kelsey Coleman in the third and an RBI-single by Vanadia in the fourth to earn the win.

Hanson (6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 0 Ks, 2 BB) (11-12) took the loss for the Rams. Ashley Hall (7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 5 Ks, 1 BB) (11-12) picked up the win.

Shepherd completes its season at 20-23.