Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

SALEM, Va. – Shepherd University (33-17) went 1-1 in first-day action of the MEC Softball Tournament in Salem, Virginia. Shepherd rallied for a 6-5 win over Concord (17-26) in an early game and dropped a 6-3 decision to West Virginia State (32-21) in a later game.

Shepherd took a 1-0 lead in the first inning against Concord as freshman second baseman Leann Brown (Hume, Va./Fauquier) singled and scored on a single by senior catcher Molly Staley (Port Deposit, Md./Perryville).

Concord tied the game in the second on an RBI-single by Chelsea Shepherd.

Shepherd took a 2-1 lead in the third as junior outfielder Kaitlyn Konopka (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) tripled and scored on sacrifice fly by Brown.

The Mountain Lions scored four runs in the fourth to take a 5-2 lead with two-run singles by Jenna Witt and Abby Beatty keying the rally.

Shepherd plated four runs in the seventh to rally for the win. Senior pitcher/designated player Kaitlin Munda (Nokesville, Va./Kettle Run/Francis Marion) led off with a single and moved to second on a single by Konopka. Junior outfielder Morgan Cox (Halifax, Pa./Halifax) singled to score Munda. Brown followed with a double to score Konopka and move Cox to third. Staley singled to score Cox and move Brown to third before junior pitcher Lori Sturgill singled up the middle to score Brown with the game-winner.

Sturgill (3.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 K, 0 BB) (14-6) earned the win for the Rams. Darby Fitzpatrick (6.0 IP, 12 H, 6 ER, 1 K, 1 BB) (11-9) took the loss for the Mountain Lions.

West Virginia State took a 1-0 lead in the first as Kayleigh Thompson led off with a single and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Brookelyn Hale.

The Yellow Jackets added three runs in the second to take a 5-0 lead. A two-run homer by Meek keyed the rally.

Shepherd got on the board in the fifth as Cox reached on an error and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Staley.

State took a 6-1 lead in the seventh behind an RBI-double by Brittany Allison and an RBI-triple from Madison Rafuson.

The Rams rallied with two runs in the seventh.  Munda walked and scored on an error and Brown reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a single by Sturgill.

Senior outfielder Jessica Robinson (Glen Burnie, Md./Glen Burnie) went 2-for-3 to lead the Rams.

Micca Mirabella had a 3-for-3 effort for the Yellow Jackets.

Freshman pitcher Cheyenne Van Pelt (South Riding, Va./Freedom) (1.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER 1 K, 2 BB) (7-1) took the loss for the Rams. Callie Norton (4.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 K, 2 BB) (6-7) gained the win for the Yellow Jackets.

The Rams return to action on Saturday when they face UVa-Wise at 10 a.m. in second-day action of the MEC Tournament in Salem, Virginia.