BRISTOL, Tenn. – Shepherd University (0-2) dropped a pair of games to open the season in softball action at King (Tenn.) University on Saturday. The Rams dropped a 6-3 decision to King (6-5) in the early game and took a 9-1 loss to Emory & Henry (2-3) in the later contest.
King took a 3-0 lead in the first inning on a three-run blast by Haylee Dye.
The Tornado added a pair of runs on three hits in the second to up the lead to 5-0.
Shepherd got on the scoreboard in the third as junior infielder Lexi Clatterbuck (Front Royal, Va./Skyline) singled, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. She scored on a ground out by junior third baseman Lauren Moore (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora/Trevecca Nazarene).
The Tornado added a run in the fifth behind an RBI triple by Dye.
The Rams plated two runs in the seventh on an RBI single by graduate student catcher Alex Mantz (Edinburg, Va./Central) and a sacrifice fly by senior outfielder Isabella Forte (Hedgesville, W.Va./Hedgesville).
Clatterbuck went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored to lead the Rams.
Savana Luper (7.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 9 K, 8 BB) (2-1) earned the win. Graduate student pitcher Katie Laing (Jefferson, Md./Brunswick) (1.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 K, 2 BB) (0-1) took the loss.
The Rams took a 1-0 lead in the first against Emory & Henry as senior second baseman Caitlin Donnelly (Newark, Del./Padua Academy) reached on a walk and later scored on an infield error.
The Wasps scored four runs in the second with a two-run single by Danielle King keying the rally.
Emory and Henry added a run in the third and three in the fourth to take an 8-1 advantage.
The Wasps added an unearned run in the fifth to complete the scoring.
Lydia Taylor and King each had a pair of hits for the Wasps.
MaKayla Dowdy (5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 K, 2 BB) (2-1) gained the win. Senior pitcher Hannah Ruffner (Charles Town, W.Va./Washington) (3.0 IP, 7 H, 8 ER, 2 K, 2 BB) (0-1) took the loss.
The Rams return to action on Sunday when they face Emory & Henry at 10 a.m. and King at noon.
