WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – Shepherd University (39-16) used a 13-hit attack en route to a 10-2 win over Concord (38-20) in NCAA II Atlantic Regional action at West Liberty on Thursday.

The Rams took a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Senior outfielder Kaitlyn Konopka (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) and freshman third baseman Nicole Purtell (Centreville, Va./Centreville)each reached base on a walk and senior first baseman Connor Gilligan (Medford, N.J. Shawnee) followed with a three-run blast to left.

Concord cut the lead to 3-2 with two runs in the third behind a two-run single by Jenna Witt.

Shepherd responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame behind and RBI-double by Gilligan and a two-run single from freshman outfielder Tori Seymour (Winchester, Va./Sherando).

The Rams added three runs in the fourth to take a 9-2 advantage. Sophomore shortstop Ashley Burger (Hedgesville, W.Va./Spring Mills) had a two-run single to key the rally.

Shepherd ended the game in the sixth due to the eight-run rule. Burger walked and was replaced by junior pinch-runner Allison Baker (Fredericksburg, Va./Stafford). Baker later scored on a single off the bat of senior catcher Rachel Taylor (Marshall, Va./Fauquier).

Gilligan went 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and five runs batted in to pace the Rams. Konopka, Purtell, Seymour, and senior pitcher Lori Sturgill (Waldorf, Md./McDonough/College of Southern Maryland) each added a pair of hits.

Witt went 2-for-3 for the Mountain Lions.

Sturgill (6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 K, 3 BB) (16-7) gained the complete game win for the Rams. Laura Thompson (2.0 IP, 1 H, 3 ER, 0 K, 3 BB) (9-7) took the loss.
The Rams return to regional action on Friday at 11 a.m. when they face Lock Haven, a 7-2 winner over West Liberty in an earlier game.

Notes: Konopka set a Shepherd single season mark with her 26th stolen base of the season … she breaks the old mark of 25 that she set in 2017 … Shepherd improves to 6-8 in NCAA II regional play.