Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 INSTITUTE, W.Va. – Shepherd University (33-12, 22-5 MEC) swept West Virginia State (26-26, 11-19 MEC) in MEC softball doubleheader action at West Virginia State on Saturday. Shepherd recorded a 6-4 win in in game one and rallied for an 8-6 win in eight innings in the nightcap. The Rams extended their winning streak to 13 games to set a new program record.

Shepherd took a 2-0 lead in the first inning in game one on a two-run single by junior outfielder Paige Buckworth (Elkton, Md./North East).

The Rams added four runs in the second with a two-run double by freshman first baseman Connor Gilligan (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) highlighting the rally.

The Yellow Jackets scored a run in the fourth on an RBI-single by Zoey Carte.

State plated three more runs in the seventh on three hits and four errors, but Shepherd held on for the win.

Junior third baseman Alexandra Witt (Harpers Ferry, W.Va./Jefferson) went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and an RBI, while sophomore outfielder Courtney Clemons (Thurmont, Md./Catoctin) went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored to lead the Rams.

Kayleigh Thompson went 4-for-4 with a run scored to lead the Yellow Jackets.

Junior pitcher Tara Hanson (Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown) (6.0 IP, 11 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 Ks, 0 BB) (10-6) gained the win. Chelsey Parkins (7.0 IP, 12 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 K, 2 BB) (8-9) took the loss.

West Virginia State took a 3-0 lead in the first inning in the nightcap. A two-run triple by Brittany Allison keyed the rally.

Trailing 5-1 the Rams scored five runs in the sixth to take a 6-5 advantage. Freshman outfielder Morgan Cox (Halifax, Pa./Halifax) belted a two-run to key the rally.

Sydney Kaplan had a RBI-single in the sixth for the Yellow Jackets to force extra innings.

Sophomore pitcher Kaitlin Munda (Nokesville, Va./Kettle Run/Francis Marion) belted a two-run double in the eighth to lift the Rams to the win.

Witt and Munda each had three hits for the Rams.

Kaplan had three hits for West Virginia State.

Munda (8.0 IP 10 H, 6 R, 1 ER 3 K, 2 BB) (21-4) earned the complete game win for the Rams. Parkins (6.2 IP, 12 H, 7 ER, 1 K, 2 BB) (8-10) took the loss.

The Rams return to action on Sunday when they travel to University of Charleston for a 2 p.m. doubleheader.