BECKLEY, W.Va. – Shepherd University (36-17) dropped a pair of games at the MEC Baseball Tournament at Linda K. Epling Stadium on Saturday. The Rams dropped a 10-2 decision to Charleston (36-17) in the early game and then Notre Dame (28-26) outslugged the Rams for a 13-10 win in a later game to eliminate the Rams from the tournament.
Charleston plated six runs in the third inning in the early game. Hayden Cartt and Gianfranco Morrello each had two-run doubles to key the rally.
Shepherd got on board with a run in the sixth. Junior outfielder Justin Smith (Hagerstown, Md./Smithsburg/Hagerstown CC) belted a solo blast for his 13th home run of the season.
The Golden Eagles added four runs in the ninth with a two-run single by Brice Arrington fueling the rally.
Shepherd added a run in the bottom of the ninth as Smith led off with a single and later scored on a single off the bat of graduate student third baseman Syeed Mahdi (Odenton, Md./Arundel/Norfolk State).
Smith led the Rams with a 2-for-3 effort.
Austin Hathaway went 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored to lead UC.
Jacob Kaiser (8.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 6 K, 1 BB) (8-3) earned the win. Junior pitcher Steve Bowley (Medford, N.J./Holy Cross Academy/Cumberland County) (2.1 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 0 K, 0 BB) (7-3) took the loss.
Notre Dame had 19 hits in the 13-10 win in the later game.
The Falcons scored seven runs on seven hits in the second inning to take a 7-0 lead.
Shepherd rallied with six runs in the third behind a grand slam by Mahdi and a two-run single by junior outfielder Brenton Doyle (Warrenton, Va./Kettle Run).
Shepherd tied the game in the fourth on an RBI-single from Smith before the falcons took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI-single by Adam Purdy.
Notre Dame added four runs in the sixth before Shepherd rallied with three runs in the seventh to cut the lead to 11-10.
Notre Dame tacked on two runs in the eighth to seal the win.
Sophomore outfielder Jared Carr (Martinsburg, W.Va./St. James School) went 3-for 4- to lead the Rams. Senior second baseman Eric Sloper (Catlett, Va./Patriot) added a 2-for-3 effort with a solo homer.
Mick Farrell and Lukas Thompson each had three hits for the Falcons.
Hayden Parker (3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 K, 3 BB) (2-0) earned the win. Freshman pitcher Brandon Cook (Glen Burnie, Md./St.Mary's) (3.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 K, 2 BB) (0-1) took the loss.
Notre Dame advances to face Charleston in a later game at 8:15 p.m.