Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

GRANVILLE, W.Va. – Shepherd University (34-13, 27-5 MEC) swept Fairmont State (23-26, 15-17 MEC) in MEC baseball doubleheader action at Monongalia County Ballpark on Sunday. The Rams gained a 9-4 win in game one and added an 8-2 victory in the nightcap. Shepherd won the MEC North Division title for the third consecutive season. The Rams closed the regular season on a seven-game winning streak and have also won 17 of their last 18 games.

Shepherd took a 4-0 lead in the first inning in game one. Sophomore first baseman Christian Hamel (Pasadena, Md./IMG Academy) had an RBI-single and senior outfielder Reid Entsminger (Stephens City, Va./Sherando/Lamar) drove in a run when he was hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded to highlight the rally.

The Rams upped their lead to 6-0 with a pair of runs in the third. Junior catcher Eddie Nottingham (Windsor Mill, Md./Mt. St. Joseph's) walked and later scored when Entsminger reached on a fielder's choice. Junior designated hitter Brian McCourt (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown) reached on a hit-by-pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of sophomore shortstop Trenton Burgreen (Winchester, Va./Millbrook) for the other tally.

The Fighting Falcons cut the lead to 6-4 with four runs in the fourth with a two-run single by Ben Myers and a solo blast by Austin Norman keying the rally.

Shepherd added three runs in the fifth behind a two-run single by junior outfielder Nick Atkinson (Manassas, Va./Osbourn Park/VCU) and an RBI-single by sophomore second baseman Eric Sloper (Catlett, Va./Patriot).

Hamel went 2-for-3 and McCourt added a 1-for-3 effort with a pair of runs scored to lead the Rams.

Tyler Hill and Jacob Goodnight each had two hits for the Falcons.

Mitchell Johnson (4.0 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 4 K, 2 BB) (4-2) earned the win for the Rams. Junior reliever Colin Benner (Clear Brook, Va./Millbrook) (3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 5 K, 2 BB) picked up the save. Caleb Lutjens (2.0 IP, 3 H, 5 ER, 1 K, 3 BB) (2-2) took the loss for the Falcons.

Shepherd took a 1-0 lead in the first in the nightcap on a leadoff homer by Atkinson.

Fairmont State took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the frame behind a two-run single by Darren Zombro.

The Rams tied the game in the second as McCourt led off with a single and later scored on a single by junior third baseman Giovanni Torres (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Township).

Shepherd took a 3-2 lead in the third as sophomore outfielder Brenton Doyle (Warrenton, Va./Kettle Run) singled, stole second and scored when Nottingham reached on an error.

The Rams added a run in the fifth as Doyle tripled and scored on a double by Hamel.

Shepherd completed the scoring with four runs in the sixth. Doyle had a two-run single and Sloper added an RBI-single to fuel the rally.

Doyle went 3-for-4 and Entsminger added a pair of hits to pace the Rams.

Zombro went 2-for-3 to lead the Falcons.

Freshman pitcher Adam Miller (Stephens City, Va./Sherando) (6.0 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 6 K, 0 BB) (4-2) gained the victory for the Rams. Fairmont State starter Luke Paull (5.0 IP,7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 K, 0 BB) (3-3) took the loss.

The Rams, the top-seeded team in the North Division, return to action on Thursday will take on West Virginia State at noon in first-day action of the MEC Tournament at Linda K. Epling Stadium in Beckley.