WISE, Va. – Shepherd University (31-7, 19-3 MEC) split with UVa-Wise (16-17, 10-8 MEC) in MEC softball doubleheader action at UVa-Wise on Monday. The Rams gained a 5-4 win in eight innings in game one while the Highland Cavaliers earned a 2-0 victory in the nightcap.

Shepherd took a 1-0 lead in the third inning in game one. Senior outfielder Kaitlyn Konopka (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) led off with a single and later scored on a double by senior first baseman Connor Gilligan (Medford, N.J. Shawnee).

Shepherd upped its lead to 2-0 with a run in the fifth as freshman outfielder Tori Seymour (Winchester, Va./Sherando) singled and was replaced by freshman pinch-runner Daisy Adams (Montclair, Va./Forest Park). Adams later scored on a single by freshman third baseman Nicole Purtell (Centreville, Va./Centreville).

The Rams tacked on two unearned runs in the sixth to take a 4-0 lead.

UVa-Wise got on the board with a two-run blast by Alexis Miles in bottom of the sixth.

The Cavaliers forced extra innings as Julia Hoy smacked a two-run homer in the seventh to tie the game.

The Rams won the game in the eighth as sophomore shortstop Ashley Burger (Hedgesville, W.Va./Spring Mills) singled and scored on a triple off the bat of junior pitcher Taylor Stocks (Bunker Hill, W.Va./Musselman/Fordham).

Burger and Konopka each went 3-for-4 to pace the Rams.

Stocks (8.0 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 6 K, 4 BB) (15-1) earned the win for the Rams. Raychel Lapallo (8.0 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 3 K, 1 BB) (7-7) took the loss.

Wise opened the scoring in the nightcap in the second as Kaylee Jones reached on a hit-by-pitch and later scored on a passed ball.

The Cavaliers added an insurance run in the fifth as Casey Chambers walked and later scored on a double by Nikki Smith.

Gilligan went 2-for-2 to lead the Rams.

Kailyn Spencer (7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 K, 4 BB) (6-5) gained the win. Sturgill (6.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 7 K, 4 BB) (11-4) took the loss.

The Rams return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Concord for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.