Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WISE, Va. – Shepherd University (14-7, 8-2 MEC) split with UVa-Wise (12-14, 2-8 MEC) in Mountain East Conference baseball action at UVa-Wise on Saturday. UVa-Wise gained an 11-5 win in game one and Shepherd took the nightcap with a 9-7 triumph.

The Rams took a 4-0 lead in the first inning in the nightcap as they took advantage one hit and two Cavalier errors.

After Wise scored three runs in the bottom of the first, Shepherd plated a run in the second on a sacrifice fly by junior outfielder JJ Sarty (Purcellville, Va./Woodgrove/William & Mary) and another in the fourth on a solo homer by senior shortstop Tre Porter (Stephens City, Va./Sherando/Potomac State).

Wise scored on an RBI-single by David Thomas in the fifth before Shepherd scored a run on a solo round-tripper by junior first baseman Brandon Kirk (Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton West/Mercer CC) in the sixth.

Shepherd added a run in the eighth on an RBI-single by junior outfielder Jacob Carney (Stephens City, Va./Sherando), but Wise answered back with three runs in the bottom of the frame to cut the lead to 8-7.

The Rams completed the scoring on an RBI-double by junior second baseman Mike Brown (Brandywine, Md./St. Mary's Ryken/Delaware Tech CC).

Porter went 3-for-3 to lead the Rams.

Freshman pitcher Colin Benner (Clear Brook, Va./Millbrook) (7.0 IP, 11 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 6 Ks, 2 BB) (3-0) gained the win. Senior reliever Jamie Driver (Broad Run, Va./Kettle Run) secured the final out of the game to pick up the save. Wise starter Justin Zaferakis (3.0 IP, 2 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 3 Ks, 4 BB) (1-2) took the loss.

Shepherd took a 2-0 lead in the first inning in game one as senior shortstop Tre Porter (Stephens City, Va./Sherando/Potomac State) and junior outfielder Ron Farley (Cockeysville, Md./Calvert Hall/Delaware State).

Wise plated three runs in the third with a two-run single by Tye Marshall keying the rally.

The Cavaliers added three more runs in the fourth with a two-run single by Steve Klaiber highlighting the scoring.

Shepherd got a two-run homer by Porter and an RBI-single by freshman catcher Christian Hamel (Pasadena, Md./IMG Academy) to cut the lead to 6-5.

UVa-Wise added a pair of runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth to seal the win.

Junior outfielder Jacob Carney (Stephens City, Va./Sherando), sophomore third baseman Chase Hoffman (Middletown, Md./Middletown), and Porter each had a pair of hits for the Rams.

Jared Finch (5.0 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 6 Ks, 1 BB) (2-5) gained the win, while Kenny Ball (2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2Ks, 0 BB) earned the save for the Cavaliers. Freshman pitcher AJ Stead (Culpeper, Va./Eastern View) (4.0 IP, 9 H, 6 ER, 2 Ks, 2 BB) (3-1) took the loss for the Rams.

The Rams return to action on Monday when they host Concord for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.