Box Score BECKLEY, W.Va. – Shepherd University handed West Liberty an 8-4 setback in second day action of the Mountain East Conference Baseball Tournament at Linda K. Epling Stadium on Friday.

Shepherd took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as sophomore outfielder Jacob Carney (Stephens City, Va./Sherando) led off with a walk, stole second, and later scored on a double off the bat of senior outfielder Matt Wilson (Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley/Essex CC).

The Rams added three runs in the second on a three-run opposite field home run by senior third baseman Bryce Shemer (Potomac, Md./Winston Churchill/Colorado Mesa).

West Liberty cut the lead to 4-1 in the fifth on a solo blast by Vincent Haddox.

The Hilltoppers added a pair of runs in the sixth behind an RBI-single by Jordan Meyer and a sacrifice fly by Tim Hughes to cut the lead to 4-3.

Shepherd added four insurance runs in the top of the ninth as Wilson had a two-run single, while sophomore outfielder Jonathan Sarty (Purcellville, Va./Woodgrove/William & Mary) and Carney each added an RBI-single to key the scoring outburst.

West Liberty added a run in the bottom of the frame on an RBI-single from Jose Jared Carranza.

Wilson led the Rams with a 3-for-5 outing with three RBI. Sarty added a 3-for-5 effort with an RBI and a run scored while Carney and junior designated hitter/pitcher Sam Crater (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York/Frederick CC)each had a pair of hits and scored twice.

Anthony Pierro, Tim Mirandy, and Carranza each had a pair of hits for the Hilltoppers.

Junior pitcher Jamie Driver (Broad Run, Va./Kettle Run) (7.0 IP, 6 H,3 ER,  5 Ks, 0 BB) (9-2) gained the win for the Rams. He got relief help from Crater (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 K, 1 BB)  and senior reliever Brian Martin (Westminster, Md./Winters Mill) (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 Ks, 0 BB). Hilltopper starter Greg Stagani (6.0 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 1 K, 3 BB) (4-5) took the loss.

Shepherd improves to 38-10, while West Liberty falls to 28-21. The Rams return to action on Saturday when they face Concord at 11 a.m.