Box Score BECKLEY, W.Va. – Shepherd University (30-21) rallied past West Liberty (29-21) for a 9-6 victory at Linda K. Epling Stadium in Beckley in MEC Baseball Tournament action on Saturday.

West Liberty took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Nolan Marcus singled and later scored on a single by Mike Adams.

The Hilltoppers added a pair of runs in the second behind an RBI-double from Alex Rojas and an RBI-single from Justice Jackson.

West Liberty took a 5-0 lead in the third with two more runs. Coby Eckstein reached on a hit-by-pitch and Tim Hughes followed with a single. Both Eckstein and Hughes later scored on a throwing error. 

Shepherd cut the lead to 5-1 in the fourth. Freshman outfielder Brenton Doyle (Warrenton, Va./Kettle Run) reached on a three-base error and scored on a double by senior outfielder JJ Sarty (Purcellville, Va./Woodgrove/William& Mary).

The Rams added a run in the sixth on a solo blast by Sarty. Sarty's home run was his 13th on the year.

The Hilltoppers took a 6-2 lead in the bottom of the frame as Marcus led off with a double and later scored on a single by Eckstein.

Shepherd plated five runs in the seventh to take a 7-6 lead. Senior second baseman Brandon Kirk (Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton East/Mercer CC) had an RBI-single, senior first baseman Jacob Carney (Stephens City, Va./Sherando) had a two-run single, and  Doyle belted a two-run blast to right field to cap the rally.

The Rams added a pair of runs in the eighth as junior designated hitter Daniel Heleine (Hedgesville, W.Va./Hedgesville/WVU) launched a two-run homer down the left field line for this 13th round-tripper of the year.

Doyle, Sarty and Heleine each had a pair of hits to pace the Rams.

Chad Matthus and Marcus each had three hits to lead a 16-hitr effort for the Hilltoppers.

Sophomore pitcher Ryan Potts (Owings, Md./Northern) (4.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 4 K, 0 BB) (3-1) gained the win for the Rams in relief of sophomore pitcher A.J. Stead (Culpeper, Va./Eastern View) (2.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 0 K, 1 BB). Senior pitcher Brandon Hovel (Aberdeen, Md./Kenwood/CCBC Dundalk) (1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 K, 0 BB) gained the save.West Liberty starter Parker Dyson (6.2 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 5 K, 1 BB) (4-2) took the loss for the Hilltoppers.

The Rams return to action at 3:30 p.m. when they face the winner of the Fairmont State-West Virginia Wesleyan game.