WILSON, N.C. – Junior outfielder Jared Carr (Martinsburg, W.Va./St. James School) belted a three-run homer in the seventh inning to lift Shepherd University (8-7) to a 4-2 win over #20 Mercyhurst (3-3) in baseball action in Wilson, North Carolina on Thursday.

Shepherd took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when sophomore catcher Zach Doss (Waldorf, Md./North Point/Maryland) walked and later scored when redshirt-junior second baseman Joey Schwartz (Smithsburg, Md./Smithsburg/Western Kentucky) walked with the bases loaded.

The Lakers answered back in the third with a pair of runs to take a 2-1 lead. Casimer Sobaszek was hit-by-pitch, moved to second when Troy Banks walked, and scored on a single by Philip Ferranti. Banks later scored when Hunter Snyder was hi-by-pitch with the bases loaded.

The Rams set the stage for Carr in the seventh as senior designated hitter Joe Burack (Ridgely, Md./North Caroline)  walked and was replaced by graduate student pinch-runner Trustin Riley (Harrisburg, Pa./Mercersburg Academy/Tampa). Riley stole second and sophomore outfielder Brennan Holmes (Ona, W.Va./Cabell Midland) followed with a walk.

Senior shortstop Trenton Burgreen (Winchester, Va./Millbrook) went 2-for-4 to lead an eight-hit attack for the Rams.

Luke Baranchak went 2-for-3 to pace the Lakers.

Senior reliever Trevor Sprinkle (Whiteford, Md./Calvert Hall) (6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 K, 1 BB) (1-0) gained the victory. William Whiteman (1.0 IP, 1 H, 3 ER, 2 K, 2 BB) (0-1) took the loss for Mercyhurst.

The Rams return to action on Friday when they face Ohio Dominican at 2:30 p.m. in Wilson, North Carolina.