SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Shepherd University (24-6, 14-2 MEC) swept Notre Dame (14-18, 4-8 MEC) in MEC softball doubleheader action at Sara Cree Field on Saturday. The Rams gained a 14-0 win in five innings in game one and added a 3-0 victory in the nightcap.
The Rams plated 10 runs in the first inning in game one as they capitalized on five hits, four walks and two Falcon errors. Senior outfielder Lori Sturgill (Waldorf, Md./McDonough/College of Southern Maryland) drove in a pair of runs to key the scoring.
Shepherd added a run in the second when junior pitcher Taylor Stocks (Bunker Hill, W.Va./Musselman/Fordham) walked and later scored when freshman third baseman Nicole Purtell (Centreville, Va./Centreville) walked with the bases loaded.
The Rams added two runs in the third. Sophomore second baseman Leann Brown (Hume, Va./Fauquier) singled and later scored on a single by senior outfielder Morgan Cox (Halifax, Pa./Halifax). Senior catcher Rachel Taylor (Marshall, Va./Fauquier) reached on an error and later scored on a wild pitch.
Shepherd completed the scoring in the fourth as Purtell led off with a walk and scored when freshman catcher Lindsey Anderson (Winchester, Va./James Wood) walked with the bases loaded.
Shepherd scored a pair of runs in the fourth inning in game one on a two-run double off the bat of senior outfielder Lori Sturgill (Waldorf, Md./McDonough/College of Southern Maryland).
Sophomore second baseman Leann Brown (Hume, Va./Fauquier) went 2-for-3 to pace the Rams.
Junior pitcher Taylor Stocks (Bunker Hill, W.Va./Musselman/Fordham) (3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 5 K, 0 BB) (11-1) earned the win for the Rams with relief help from freshman pitcher Sarah Lamper (Marshall, Va./Fauquier) (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 K, 0 BB). McKenzie Zigmont (0.0 IP, 2 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 0 K, 3 BB) (6-9) took the loss for the Falcons.
Shepherd took a 2-0 lead in the fourth in the nightcap as senior outfielder Kaitlyn Konopka (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) and senior first baseman Connor Gilligan (Medford, N.J. Shawnee) hit back-to-back singles. Konopka later scored on a sacrifice fly by Brown and Gilligan scored on a single by Sturgill.
The Rams added an insurance run in the fifth as Cox reached on an error, stole second, and scored on a double off the bat of Purtell.
Purtell went 2-for-3 to pace the Rams to lead the Falcons.
Sturgill (7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 5 K, 0 BB) (8-3) earned the win. Taylor Olson (6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 5 K, 0 BB) (7-9) took the loss for the Falcons.
The Rams return to action on Sunday when they host Urbana for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
Notes: Shepherd has won 18 of its last 19 games … the Rams improved to 10-0 at home this year … Shepherd has posted six shutout wins on the season.
