Box Score JAMESTOWN, N.Y. – Shepherd University (33-23) dropped a 11-4 decision to 14th-ranked West Chester (38-11) in NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Baseball Championship action  at  Russell Diethrick Park in Jamestown, N.Y. on Friday night.

Shepherd took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as senior first baseman Jacob Carney (Stephens City, Va./Sherando) led off with a single and later scored on a single off the bat of senior outfielder JJ Sarty (Purcellville, Va./Woodgrove/William& Mary).

The Golden Rams answered back in the top of the second as Joe Sheeran tripled and later scored when Anthony Salamone reached on an error.

West Chester plated four runs on four hits and one error in the fifth to take a 5-1 lead. Nick Bateman had a two-run double, while Jared Melone and Nick Ward each drove in a run to highlight the rally.

The Golden Rams added three more runs in the seventh on a three-run blast by Sheeran.

Shepherd scored three runs in the bottom of the frame to cut the lead to 8-4. Carney  singled, Sarty reached on a fielder's choice, and junior third baseman Chase Hoffman (Middletown, Md./Middletown) launched a three-run homer to left center field. Hoffman now has 12 homers on the season.

West Chester tacked on three runs in the eighth. Melone had an RBI-single and the Golden Rams added a run on a passed ball, and another on a wild pitch.

Carney had three hits and scored a pair of runs to pace the Rams.

Ward and Salamone each had three hits to lead a 14-hit effort for the Golden Rams.

Senior pitcher John Bentley (Stephens City, Va./Sherando) (5.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 8 K, 2 BB) (5-5) took the loss for the Rams. Mike Cipolla (6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 4 K, 4 BB) (8-2) earned the win for the Golden Rams.

The Rams return to action on Saturday when they face fifth-seeded Shippensburg at 3 p.m.