Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 INSTITUTE, W.Va. – Shepherd University (4-10, 2-0 MEC) swept a pair of games with West Virginia State (7-7, 0-2 MEC) in MEC baseball action at West Virginia State on Saturday afternoon. Shepherd recorded a 7-5 win in game one and added a 10-1 triumph in the nightcap.

The Rams took a 1-0 lead in the second inning in game one on a solo blast by junior designated hitter Daniel Heleine (Hedgesville, W.Va./Hedgesville/WVU).

Shepherd increased its lead to 2-0 in the third on an opposite field solo homer by senior second baseman Jacob Carney (Stephens City, Va./Sherando).

The Yellow Jackets scored a pair of runs on one hit in the bottom of the third to tie the game at 2-2.

The Rams took a 4-2 lead with a pair of runs in the fourth. Senior outfielder Ron Farley (Cockeysville, Md./Calvert Hall/Delaware Tech) reached on an error and later scored on a single by Heleine. Heleine later scored when senior first baseman Mike Brown (Brandywine, Md./St. Mary's Ryken/Delaware Tech) reached on an error.

State cut the lead to 4-3 with a run in the bottom of the frame on an RBI-single from Trayvis Patterson.

Shepherd extended its lead to 5-3 in the fifth as Carney led off with a walk and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Farley.

The Yellow Jackets answered back with a run in the bottom of the fifth on a solo homer by Phil Mandt.

The Rams extended their lead to 7-4 in the sixth with two runs on three hits and one State error. Junior catcher Dalton Haymaker (New Oxford, Pa./Delone Catholic/Frederick CC) had an RBI-single to key the rally.

West Virginia State added a run in the seventh on an RBI-single by Jalen Benjamin.

Sophomore infielder Brian McCourt (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown) and Heleine each went 3-for-4 to pace a 10-hit attack for the Rams.

Brandon Wright and Benjamin each had a pair of hits for the Yellow Jackets.

Redshirt-freshman pitcher Joe Rindone (Brunswick, Md./Brunswick/Towson) (1-2) (5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 8 K, 2 BB) earned the win for the Rams. Sophomore reliever Ryan Simpson (Warrenton, Va./Fauquier) (2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 3 K, 1 BB) gained the save. State starter Colby Gainer (1-2) (5.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 K, 1 BB) took the loss for the Yellow Jackets.

Shepherd took a 2-0 lead in the second inning in game two behind a solo homer by senior shortstop Brandon Kirk (Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton East/Mercer CC) and an RBI-triple by senior outfielder JJ Sarty (Purcellville, Va./Woodgrove/William& Mary) .

The Rams added a run in the fourth as freshman outfielder Brenton Doyle (Warrenton, Va./Kettle Run) led off with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Haymaker.

Shepherd sealed the win with seven runs in the ninth. Sarty belted a three-run homer, Farley had a solo blast, and Heleine belted a two-run shot to highlight the scoring outburst.

Mandt hit a solo blast for the Yellow Jackets in the bottom of the ninth.

Carney went 4-for-5 and Sarty added a 3-for-4 effort for the Rams.

Sophomore pitcher A.J. Stead (Culpeper, Va./Eastern View) (1-3) (8.0 IP, 6 K, 5 BB, 1 H, 0 R) earned the win for the Rams with relief help from sophomore Ryan Potts (Owings, Md./Northern) (1.0 IP 2H 1 ER, 1 K, 1 BB). Tyler Hall (2-2) (8.0 IP, 6 K, 1 BB, 9 H, 3 ER) took the loss for the Yellow Jackets.

The Rams return to action on Sunday when they travel to University of Charleston for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.