SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Shepherd University (27-12, 20-5) swept West Liberty (10-38, 3-23) in MEC softball doubleheader action at Shepherd on Sunday. Shepherd recorded a 6-1 win in in game one and added another 6-1 triumph in the nightcap.
Shepherd took a 2-0 lead in the first inning in game one on back-to-back solo home runs from sophomore outfielder
Courtney Clemons (Thurmont, Md./Catoctin) and freshman outfielder
Kaitlyn Konopka (Medford, N.J./Shawnee).
Freshman second baseman
Morgan Cox (Halifax, Pa./Halifax) and Konopka each had RBI-singles in the fourth to give the Rams a 4-0 lead.
West Liberty got on the scoreboard in the sixth as Nicole Chris singled and later scored on a single off the bat of Damia Mogielski.
The Rams added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI-double by Konopka and an RBI-single from freshman pinch hitter
Rachel Taylor (Marshall, Va./Fauquier).
Konopka went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored to pace the Rams.
Sophomore pitcher
Kaitlin Munda (Nokesville, Va./Kettle Run/Francis Marion) (7.0 IP, 9 H, 1 ER 7 Ks, 1 BB) (18-4) picked up the win for the Rams. Callaway Barr (0.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 0 Ks, 0 BB) (0-15) took the loss for the Hilltoppers.
Shepherd took a 3-0 lead in the nightcap in the second on a three-run double by Konopka.
West Liberty cut the lead to 3-1 with a run in the fourth. Nicki Mihalik led off with a single and scored on a double off the bat of Madison Collett.
The Rams added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth behind a two-run double by Konopka.
Shepherd completed the scoring in the sixth as Taylor singled and later scored on a single by Cox.
Konopka went 2-for-3 with five RBIs to lead the Rams. Taylor, Cox, and sophomore outfielder
Jessica Robinson (Glen Burnie, Md./Glen Burnie) each added a pair of hits.
Collett and Mogielski each had two hits for the Hilltoppers.
Junior pitcher
Kirsten Barstad (Joppa, Md./Mercy) (4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 Ks, 0 BB) (2-2) picked up the win for the Rams. Junior pitcher
Tara Hanson (Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown) (3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 Ks, 0 BB) earned the save. Savanna Sieger (6.0 IP, 10 H, 6 ER, 1 K, 4 BB) (7-5) took the loss.
The Rams return to action on Monday when they host Lock Haven for a 2:30 p.m. doubleheader.