LEESBURG, Fla. – Shepherd University dropped a 12-11 slugfest to Northwood in the early game in softball action at The Spring Games in Leesburg, Florida on Monday. The Rams recorded a 9-1 win over Dominican College in five innings in a later contest.

Trailing 1-0, the Rams took a 2-1 lead in the second inning against Northwood. Senior outfielder Morgan Cox (Halifax, Pa./Halifax) had an RBI-single and freshman third baseman/pitcher Nicole Purtell (Centreville, Va./Centreville) drove in another run on a fielder's choice.

Northwood scored four runs on five walks and one hit in the third to take a 5-2 advantage.

Shepherd plated nine runs in the fourth to take an 11-4 lead. The Rams had six hits and took advantage of three errors in the big inning. Purtell had a pair of RBI-singles to key the rally.

The Timberwolves scored four runs in the bottom of the frame to cut the lead to 11-8. Jordyn Look, Mikala Gronback, Isabella Buttazzon, and Abby Joseph each drove in a run.

Torriya Gray-Baker hit a two-out, three-run triple in the sixth to force extra innings.

Lauren Castellon singled home Joseph in the eighth to give the Timberwolves the win.

Purtell went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored, while  Cox added a 2-for-3 effort.

Look went 3-for-5 to pace the Timberwolves.

Purtell (2.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 K, 0 BB) (0-1) took the loss for the Rams. April Bennett (4.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 K, 1 BB) (2-1) earned the win for Northwood.

Shepherd took a 4-0 lead in the second inning against Dominican behind RBIs from Purtell, freshman outfielder Tori Seymour (Winchester, Va./Sherando), senior outfielder Kaitlyn Konopka (Medford, N.J./Shawnee), and senior first baseman Connor Gilligan (Medford, N.J. Shawnee).

The Rams added two runs in the third as sophomore shortstop Ashley Burger (Hedgesville, W.Va./Spring Mills) belted a solo blast and Purtell added an RBI-triple.

Dominican got on the board in the third as Samantha Fitzgerald singled and later scored on a wild pitch.

The Rams completed the scoring in the fourth as Gilligan hit a solo homer and senior catcher Rachel Taylor (Marshall, Va./Fauquier) added a two-run round-tripper.

Gilligan went 3-for-4 to pace the Rams.

Fitzgerald and Andrea Hester each had a pair of hits for the Lady Chargers.

Freshman pitcher Sarah Lamper (Marshall, Va./Fauquier) (5.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 4 K, 4 BB) (2-0) picked up the win for the Rams. Madeline Uschock (1.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 K, 1 BB) (1-2) took the loss for thelady Chargers.


The Rams return to action on Tuesday when they face Lewis at 3:45 p.m. and Indiana (Pa.) at 6 p.m.