ETTRICK, Va. – Shepherd University (8-5) split with Virginia State (9-7) in doubleheader baseball action at Virginia State on Wednesday. The Rams gained a 2-1 win in nine innings in game one while Virginia State took a 6-0 victory in the nightcap.
Virginia State took a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning in game one. Liam Simpson was hit-by-pitch and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Norman Jackson.
Shepherd tied the game in the seventh as sophomore outfielder Mike Guzzardo (Mullica Hill, N.J./Bishop Eustace Prep/RCSJ Cumberland) singled and was replaced by redshirt sophomore pinch-runner Trey Sine (Martinsburg, W.Va./Martinsburg). Sine stole second and later scored on a single off the bat of graduate student catcher Zach Doss (Waldorf, Md./North Point/Maryland).
Shepherd scored the game-winner in the ninth. Graduate student infielder/outfielder Connor Dewees (Red Lion, Pa./Red Lion) led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice by Sine. Dewees stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of graduate student catcher Andrew Edwards (Alexandria, Va./West Potomac).
Redshirt-sophomore outfielder Sam Daggers (Galloway, N.J./Absegami/Rowan Gloucester CC) and Doss each had a pair of hits for the Rams.
Senior pitcher Nate Hodgkinson (Red Lion, Pa./Red Lion) (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K, 0 BB) (1-1) gained the win. Aldrewvonte Jackson (2.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 K, 2 BB) (0-1) took the loss for the Trojans.
The Trojans took a 3-0 lead in the first on one hit in the nightcap. Morris Ford, Ryan Messer, and Jackson each drove in a run.
Virginia State added a run in the second when Ford walked with the bases loaded to plate Avante Banks, who also reached on a walk.
The Trojans scored a pair of runs on one hit and two Shepherd errors in the sixth. Tahraun Hamm drove in a run and scored another.
Ricky Jones went 2-for-4 to pace the Trojans.
Christian Henderson (0.0 IP, 4 H, 6 ER, 0 K, 1 BB) (2-0) gained the win for the Trojans. Redshirt-freshman pitcher Austin Ritchie (New Market, Va./Stonewall Jackson) (0.1 IP, 1 H, 3 ER, 0 K, 3 BB) (0-1) took the loss.
The Rams are slated to return to action on Sunday (originally scheduled for Saturday) when they travel to East Stroudsburg for a noon doubleheader at Creekview Park as weather concerns caused schedule changes. Friday's game at Shepherd has been postponed with makeup plans yet to be announced.
