Box Score BECKLEY, W.Va. – Shepherd University (37-13) rapped 22 hits on the day en route to a 19-2 win West Virginia State (32-15) in the MEC Baseball Tournament in the championship game at Linda K. Epling Stadium in Beckley on Sunday.

West Virginia State took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Dylan Grimm tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Trayvis Patterson.

Shepherd tied the game in the bottom of the frame as junior outfielder Ron Farley (Cockeysville, Md./Calvert Hall/Delaware State) reached on a fielder's choice and later scored on a single by freshman catcher Christian Hamel (Pasadena, Md./IMG Academy).

The Rams took a 2-1 lead in the second as sophomore third baseman Chase Hoffman (Middletown, Md./Middletown) singled and later scored on a single by junior outfielder Jacob Carney (Stephens City, Va./Sherando).

Shepherd plated four runs in the third to gain a 6-1 advantage. Junior first baseman Mike Brown (Brandywine, Md./St. Mary's Ryken/Delaware Tech CC) had an RBI-double, junior second baseman Brandon Kirk (Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton West/Mercer CC) hit an RBI-single, and senior shortstop Zane Bard (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg/Mount St. Mary's) hit a two-run double to key the rally.

The Rams added five runs in the fourth to open up an 11-1 lead. Farley had an RBI-single, while Brown and Bard each added two-run singles.

Shepherd scored three runs in the sixth. Hamel led off with a double and scored on a double by Brown. Brown later scored on a wild pitch as Kirk walked. Kirk later scored when junior outfielder JJ Sarty (Purcellville, Va./Woodgrove/William & Mary) reached on an error.

West Virginia State added run in the eighth as Trenton Porter led off with a double and later scored on a single by Patterson.
 
The Rams plated five more runs in the eighth with a two-run single by Brown keying the rally.

Brown went 4-for-6 with six RBIs and three runs scored to pace the Rams. Heleine added a 3-for-4 effort with two runs scored, while Bard was 2-for-5 with four RBIs and a riu scored.

Patterson went 2-for-3 and drove in a pair of runs to lead State.

Senior reliever Jamie Driver (Broad Run, Va./Kettle Run) (7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 4 Ks, 1 BB) (7-4) earned the win for the Rams. Dustin Kincaid (2.2 IP, 9 H, 6 E R, 1 K, 1 BB) (7-2) took the loss for the Yellow Jackets.

The Rams await word on pairings for the regional tournament next week. The NCAA II Baseball Selection Show will air tonight at 10 p.m. on www.ncaa.com.

MEC All-Tournament Team
Julio Rosales – Notre Dame
Michael Adams – West Liberty
Mark Smyth - West Liberty
Justin Graham – WV State
Curtis Johnson – WV State
Jamison Jones – WV State
Jamie Driver - Shepherd
Daniel Heleine - Shepherd
Tre Porter - Shepherd
Jacob Carney – Shepherd (MVP)