PEMBROKE, N.C. – Shepherd University (2-3) dropped a 20-5 decision to UNC Pembroke (4-0) in baseball action at UNC Pembroke on Friday.
The Rams took a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Junior infielder Aidan Greaney (New Windsor, Md./South Carroll/Frederick CC) belted a leadoff homer and junior shortstop Greg Borges (Odenton, Md./Avalon Day School/Allegany College of Maryland) followed with a single. Borges later scored on a single off the bat of redshirt-junior outfielder Trey Sine (Martinsburg, W.Va./Martinsburg).
Shepherd added a run in the third on a solo homer by senior outfielder Idris Carter (Uniondale, N.Y./Roosevelt/Stony Brook) to take a 3-0 advantage.
UNC Pembroke answered back with nine runs in the bottom of the third to take control of the contest. Chase Hudson had a three-run double and Isaisas Villareal added a two-run single to key the rally.
After the Braves added a run in the fifth and two in the sixth, Shepherd plated a pair of runs in the seventh on a two-run blast by graduate student third baseman Connor Dewees (Red Lion, Pa./Red Lion).
UNC Pembroke tacked on seven runs in the bottom of the seventh to complete the scoring. Joey Rezek and Jake Bradley each had RBI-doubles to fuel the rally.
Carter and Borges each had a pair of hits to lead the Rams.
Rezek went 2-for-2 and drove in four runs for the Braves.
Spencer Ledford (5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 7 K, 3 BB) (1-0) gained the win. Chase Jernigan (3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 5 K, 1 BB) (2) earned the save. Redshirt-freshman starter Daniel Quintana (Haymarket, Va./Paul VI/James Madison) (2.1 IP, 5 H, 8 ER, 3 K, 4 BB) (0-1) took the loss.
The two teams return to action for a noon doubleheader on Saturday at UNC Pembroke.
