Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – Shepherd University (24-12, 18-4 MEC) swept West Liberty (14-16, 12-9 MEC) in baseball action at West Liberty on Saturday. The Rams earned a 5-1 win in game one and added a 10-4 triumph in the nightcap.

Shepherd took a 2-0 lead in the first inning in game one behind a two-run single by junior catcher Eddie Nottingham (Windsor Mill, Md./Mt. St. Joseph's).

Tyler Ramsay hit a solo blast for the Hilltoppers in the second to cut the lead to 2-1.

Junior outfielder Justin Smith (Hagerstown, Md./Smithsburg/Hagerstown CC) hit a sacrifice fly to score sophomore outfielder Brenton Doyle (Warrenton, Va./Kettle Run) in the third and fifth inning to give the Rams a 4-1 lead.

Shepherd completed the scoring in the seventh with a solo homer by junior outfielder Nick Atkinson (Manassas, Va./Osbourn Park/VCU).

Doyle went 3-for-3 and scored three runs to lead the Rams.

Junior starter Ryan Potts (Owings, Md./Northern) (7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 11 K, 1 BB) (7-1) gained the  complete game win for the Rams. Justin Retzer (6.1 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 8 K, 3 BB) (5-3) took the loss for the Hilltoppers.

The Rams hit five home runs in the nightcap en route to the sweep.

Sophomore first baseman Christian Hamel (Pasadena, Md./IMG Academy) hit a solo homer in the third to break a 1-1 tie.

After an RBI-single by sophomore second baseman Eric Sloper (Catlett, Va./Patriot) in the fourth, Dalton Davis hit a solo homer for the Hilltoppers in the bottom of the frame to cut the lead to 3-2.

The Rams got a two-run blast by Doyle in the fifth to take a 5-2 lead.

West Liberty answered back in the bottom of the frame with a pair of runs on a sacrifice fly from Davis and an RBI-single by Justice Jackson to make in 5-4.

The Rams scored five runs in the sixth to seal the win. Smith had a two-run homer, Hamel added a two-run double, while Doyle contributed a sacrifice fly to highlight the scoring outburst.

Atkinson went 3-for-4 to lead the Rams.

Coby Eckstein and Davis each had pair of hits for the Hilltoppers.

Senior pitcher Logan Manz (Frederick, Md./Frederick /Salisbury) (4.1 IP, 4 H,  4 ER, 4 K, 3 BB) (2-0) earned the win. Sophomore reliever Mitchell Johnson (Shady Side, Md./Southern) (2.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 K, 1 BB) earned the save. Parker Dyson (5.1 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 5 K, 2 BB) (3-3) took the loss for West Liberty.

The two teams return to action on Sunday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader at West Liberty.