Box Score WEST LAWN, Pa. – Shepherd University (38-14) handed West Chester (37-14) a 4-2 defeat in third day action at the NCAA II Atlantic Regional Baseball Tournament on Saturday at Owls Park at Ted Palka Field.
West Chester took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Nick Ward was hit-by-pitch and Justin Roman doubled to give the Golden Rams runners at second and third. Shane Dressler followed with a two-run single.
Shepherd tied the game in the fourth with a pair of unearned runs. Junior outfielder
Ron Farley (Cockeysville, Md./Calvert Hall/Delaware State) and sophomore designated hitter
Daniel Heleine (Hedgesville, W.Va./Hedgesville/WVU) both singled and later scored when junior first baseman
Mike Brown (Brandywine, Md./St. Mary's Ryken/Delaware Tech CC) reached on an infield error.
The Rams added a run in the fifth to take a 3-2 advantage. Senior shortstop
Tre Porter (Stephens City, Va./Sherando/Potomac State) hit a two-out triple and scored on an infield single by junior outfielder
JJ Sarty (Purcellville, Va./Woodgrove/William & Mary).
Shepherd added an insurance run in the seventh as junior second baseman
Brandon Kirk (Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton West/Mercer CC) led off with a single and later scored on a single by Sarty.
Sarty went 2-fo-4 to pace the Rams.
Dressler had a 2-for-3 effort to lead the Golden Rams.
Freshman pitcher
AJ Stead (Culpeper, Va./Eastern View) (7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 5 Ks, 3 BB) (8-1) picked up the win for the Rams. Senior reliever
Jamie Driver (Broad Run, Va./Kettle Run) (2.0 IP, 1 K3, 3 BB) tossed scoreless, hitless ball over the final two frames to pick up the save. Andrew Gernert (6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 5 Ks, 3 BB) (8-2) took the loss.
The Rams return to action on Sunday when they face East Stroudsburg at noon at Owls Field at Ted Palka Field.
Notes: Shepherd's 38 wins are one shy of tying the single season mark of 39, set in 1997, 2014, and 2015 … the Rams snapped a three-game skid in regional play with their last postseason win coming against Winston-Salem State in 2014 … Porter (6) tied the single season mark for most triples in a season set by Adam Straskulic in 2000.
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