URBANA, Ohio – Shepherd University (20-10, 11-3 MEC) swept Urbana (7-19, 3-11 MEC) in MEC baseball doubleheader action at Urbana on Saturday. The Blue Knights posted an 8-7 win in game one, while junior outfielder Brenton Doyle (Warrenton, Va./Kettle Run) hit for the cycle as the Rams rebounded with a 12-2 triumph in the nightcap.
The Rams used a 13-hit attack in the nightcap to capture the split.
Shepherd scored five runs in the first inning with a two-run single by junior shortstop Trenton Burgreen (Winchester, Va./Millbrook) highlighting the inning.
The Rams added a run in the second on a solo blast by Doyle.
After Urbana got on the board with a run in the bottom of the second, Shepherd got an RBI-triple from Doyle and an RBI ground out from junior outfielder Justin Smith (Hagerstown, Md./Smithsburg/Hagerstown CC) to take a 9-1 lead.
The Rams added two runs in the fifth with a sacrifice fly by senior outfielder Nick Atkinson (Manassas, Va./Osbourn Park/VCU) keying the rally.
Shepherd final run came on an RBI-double by Doyle in the sixth. The double gave him the cycle as he singled in the second.
Doyle went 4-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored to lead the Rams. Senior first baseman Eddie Nottingham (Windsor Mill, Md./Mt. St. Joseph's/Catonsville CC) added a 3-for-4 effort.
Senior starter Ryan Potts (Owings, Md./Northern) (5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 8 K, 3 BB) (4-2) earned the win for the Rams. Dylan Whisman (2.0 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 2 K, 3 BB) (0-3) took the loss for the Blue Knights.
Urbana scored four runs in the first inning and two in the second to take a 6-0 lead in game one.
Shepherd got a run in the third on a sacrifice fly by Smith
The Rams added two more in the fourth on a solo blast by junior catcher Christian Hamel (Pasadena, Md./IMG Academy) and an RBI-single by Burgreen.
Shepherd cut the lead to 6-4 behind an RBI-single by Smith in the fifth before Tyler Dellerman hit a solo homer for the Blue Knights to make it a 7-4 Urbana advantage.
The Rams got an RBI-single by sophomore outfielder Jared Carr (Martinsburg, W.Va./St. James School) in the sixth and Hamel and sophomore designated hitter Daniel Keer (Lehighton, Pa./Marian Catholic) each drove in a run in the seventh to tie the game.
Urbana got an RBI-single by Brett Bell in the bottom of the seventh to record the win.
Sophomore pitcher Adam Miller (Stephens City, Va./Sherando) (4.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 4 K, 1 BB) (3-3) took the loss for the Rams. Taylor Lane (1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 K, 1 BB) (1-0) gained the win for the Blue Knights.
The two teams return to action on Sunday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Urbana.
