SALEM, Va. – Shepherd University (38-16) went 2-1 on the day in MEC Softball Tournament action in Salem, Virginia on Saturday. Shepherd recorded a 5-1 win over Notre Dame this morning in a game that was resumed from yesterday. The Rams later rallied for a 5-3 win over Fairmont State before Concord recorded a 2-0 victory in the elimination game.
Shepherd plated all five of its runs in the first inning in the win over Notre Dame. Freshman third baseman Nicole Purtell (Centreville, Va./Centreville) and sophomore shortstop Ashley Burger (Hedgesville, W.Va./Spring Mills) each drove in a run and sophomore second baseman Leann Brown (Hume, Va./Fauquier) added a two-run single to key the scoring.
Shelby Stephens belted a solo home run in the sixth for the Falcons.
Burger went 2-for-3 to lead the Rams.
Senior pitcher Lori Sturgill (Waldorf, Md./McDonough/College of Southern Maryland) (4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 K, 1 BB) (15-6) gained the win for the Rams. Sophomore pitcher Cheyenne Van Pelt (South Riding, Va./Freedom) (3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 K, 0 BB) earned the save. Taylor Olson (6.0 IP, 5 H, 5 UER, 3 K, 2 BB) (11-17) took the loss.
Fairmont State took a 2-0 lead in the second inning against the Rams on a two-run single by Cosgrove.
Shepherd answered back in the bottom of the frame on an RBI-single by Burger.
Cosgrove added an RBI-single in the fifth to up the Fairmont lead to 3-1.
Shepherd scored four runs in the fifth to rally for the win. Senior first baseman Connor Gilligan (Medford, N.J. Shawnee) had an RBI-double, freshman outfielder Tori Seymour (Winchester, Va./Sherando) smacked a two-run double and senior catcher Rachel Taylor (Marshall, Va./Fauquier) to fuel the rally.
Burger and Gilligan each had a pair of hits for the Rams.
Junior pitcher Taylor Stocks (Bunker Hill, W.Va./Musselman/Fordham) (2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 K, 0 BB) (17-5) earned the win for the Rams. Darby Peterson (4.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 0 K, 3 BB) (5-6) took the loss.
Concord scored a pair of runs in fourth inning to down the Rams. Kylie Kent and Lauren Blunt each drove in a run.
Senior outfielder Kaitlyn Konopka (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) went 2-for-3 to lead the Rams.
Laura Thompson (7.0 IP, 3 H, 3 K, 2 BB) (8-6) gained the win for the Mountain Lions. Sturgill (6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 0 K, 1 BB) (15-7) took the loss.
The Rams await word on Monday morning at 10 a.m. on a possible seeding for NCAA II regional play.