WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Shepherd University (42-18) went 1-1 on the day in final day action of the Division II Atlantic Super Regionals at West Chester on Friday. The Rams forced a third and deciding game with a 7-1 win in the early game and saw its rally fall short in a 4-3 loss to West Chester (39-20) in the later game. Shepherd's 42 wins on the season are most in a season by any sport at Shepherd. The previous record was held by the 2017 softball team (41-22).

West Chester took a 1-0 lead in the second inning in the early game as Heidi McCollester doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Jaime Klemas.

Shepherd answered back in the third with four runs on five hits. Sophomore shortstop Ashley Burger (Hedgesville, W.Va./Spring Mills) had a two-run single to key the rally. Senior outfielder Lori Sturgill (Waldorf, Md./McDonough/College of Southern Maryland) added an RBI-double, while sophomore second baseman Leann Brown (Hume, Va./Fauquier) added an RBI-single.

The Rams added three runs in the fifth with RBI-singles by Sturgill and Brown keying the rally.

Brown went 3-for-3 and drove in a pair of runs to lead a 10-hit attack for the Rams. Sturgill added a 2-for-2 effort with a pair of runs scored and two runs batted in.

Junior pitcher Taylor Stocks (Bunker Hill, W.Va./Musselman/Fordham) (7.0 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 3 K, 3 BB) (19-6) earned the win for the Rams. Reilly Gearhart (4.1 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 3 K, 0 BB) (17-8) took the loss.

West Chester took a 1-0 lead in the first inning in the later game on an RBI-single by McCollester.

Shepherd tied the game in the third as senior outfielder Kaitlyn Konopka (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) tripled and later scored on a sacrifice bunt by Burger.

The Golden Rams took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third on and RBI-single by Emily Maseth.

West Chester increased its lead to 3-1 with a run in the fourth. Tori McCoach reached on a fielder's choice and later scored on a wild pitch.

The Golden Rams extended their lead to 4-1 on a RBI-double by Klemas in the fifth.

Shepherd plated a run in the sixth to cut the lead to 4-2. Burger led off with a single and was replaced by freshman pinch-runner Daisy Adams (Montclair, Va./Forest Park) scored on an RBI-single by freshman designated player Lindsey Anderson (Winchester, Va./James Wood).

Konopka led off the seventh with an infield single and later scored on a single to right by senior first baseman Connor Gilligan (Medford, N.J. Shawnee). Shepherd had the bases loaded with two outs, but West Chester reliever Jen Hanshaw got a ground out to end the game.

Konopka went 3-for-4 to lead the Rams. Purtell added a pair of hits.

Bri Garber scored a pair of runs to pace the Golden Rams.

Maegen Kavanaugh (6.0 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 4 K, 2 BB) (12-4) gained the win with Hanshaw (1.0 IP 1 H, 0 R, 1 K, 1 BB). earning the save. Sturgill (5.0 IP,5 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 K, 6 BB) (18-9) took the loss

Notes: Kaitlyn Konopka ended her career as the program's all-time leader in games played (227), hits (260), stolen bases (76), at-bats (767), total bases (334) … Shepherd's 13 shutouts this season set a new record, eclipsing the old mark of 12 set in  2006 … the 151 wins over the past four seasons are the most by a senior class … the Rams set a new mark for most wins in consecutive seasons with 76, surpassing the old mark of 75 (2016-17, 2017-18).